Damage to Purkinje and granular cells
Accummulates in amygdala and hippocampus
Causes abnormal neuronal cytoarchitecture; disrupts neuronal migration & cell division; reduces NCAMs
Progressive microcephaly
Brain stem defects in some cases
Damage to Purkinje and granular cells
Pathology in amygdala and hippocampus
Neuronal disorganization; increased neuronal cell replication, increased glial cells; depressed expression of NCAMs
Progressive microcephaly and macrocephaly
Brain stem defects in some cases
Alters dopamine systems; peroxidine deficiency in rats resembles mercurialism in humans
Elevates epinephrine & norepinephrine levels by blocking enzyme that degrades epinephrine
Elevates glutamate
Leads to cortical acetylcholine deficiency; increases muscarinic receptor density in hippocampus & cerebellum
Causes demyelinating neuropathy
Possibly high or low dopamine levels; positive response to peroxidine (lowers dopamine levels)
Elevated norepinephrine and epinephrine
Elevated glutamate and aspartate
Cortical acetylcholine deficiency; reduced muscarinic receptor binding in hippocampus
Demyelination in brain
Causes seizures, convulsions
Causes subtle, low amplitude seizure activity
Seizures; epilepsy
Subtle, low amplitude seizure activities
At low doses, only affects those genetically susceptible
First added to childhood vaccines in 1930s
Exposure levels steadily increased since 1930s with rate of vaccination, number of vaccines
Exposure occurs at 0 - 15 months; clinical silent stage means symptom emergence delayed; symptoms emerge gradually, starting with movement & sensation
High heritability - concordance for MZ twins is 90%
First "discovered" among children born in 1930s
Prevalence of autism has steadily increased from 1 in 2000 (pre1970) to 1 in 500 (early 1990s), higher in 2000.
Symptoms emerge from 4 months to 2 years old; symptoms emerge gradually, starting with movement & sensation
