What are the causes of mental retardation?

There are many possible causes of mental retardation, but the most common are infections that develop in the unborn child or soon after birth. In other cases, the abnormalities of the chromosome are to blame. Inherited disorders, traumatic injuries and nutritional deficiencies can sometimes lead to mental retardation. In principle, anything that occurs before the birth of man, soon after birth or during childhood that changes brain development, can lead to mental retardation. However, it is important to remember that the causes of many cases of retardation are never discovered.

infections that affect the child while still in the uterus, soon after birth or during childhood, can lead to mental retardation if they adversely affect the development of the brain. Infections that may cause or contribute to the development of mental retardation include tuberculosis, lung disease; encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain; Rubella, also called German measles; Acoxoplasmosis that is caused by parasites. Among other causes related to infection withListeriosis caused by bacteria; meningitis, marked by brain inflammation and spinal membranes; and cytomegalovirus, type of herpes virus. Even the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a virus that causes the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), has the potential to cause mental retardation.

Chromosome abnormalities are also among the causes of mental retardation. For example, abnormalities that are present before birth, such as Down syndrome, can cause mental retardation. Inherited chromosome problems, for example in abnormality called fragile x syndrome, can also cause it. In addition, one could be born with mental retardation when the gene is in the wrong place on the chromosome.

Some inherited disorders are possible causes of mental retardation. For example, a person may be mentally retarded as a result of Hunter's syndrome, a disorder in which the sugar moleculesRU creates too much or Hurler syndrome, a rare disease that includes sugar metabolism. Rett and Tay-Sachs' disease syndrome, which includes a nervous system, can also lead to mental retardation. Phenylketonuria (PKU), which is marked by the inability to decompose a substance called phenylalanine, is also one of the causes of mental retardation.

There are also nutritional causes of mental retardation. For example, if a child is malnourished, it may be more likely to suffer from mental retardation. Malnutrition may be the result of a diet that does not include good nutrient balance, nutrient absorption problems, food deficiency and certain health conditions that are left.

traumatic injuries sometimes also cause mental retardation. Brain injury during birth can cause, as well as severe head injuries during childhood. This can also cause oxygen into the brain. In addition, the bleeding into the brain that occurs before or after birth can lead to mental retardation.