What Is Comorbidity and Why Does It Matter in Neurodevelopmental Disorders?

AbstractPurpose of the ReviewTo provide an overview of the concept of comorbidity, research that supports the common co-occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders and directions for future research.Recent FindingsNeurodevelopmental disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, developmental coordination disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and learning disorders co-occur more commonly than would be expected by chance. The potential causes for this comorbidity suggested in the research literature are genetic, epigenetic, neurobiological, and environmental.SummaryDirections for research such as imaging genetics and epidemiological studies examining prenatal environmental exposures could increase our understanding of the mechanism underlying the high rates of symptom comorbidity among neurodevelopmental disorders. This in turn could lead to improvements in diagnosis, a better understanding of the course of these disorders, and the development of more effective treatments.
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - Category: Child Development Source Type: research