The cause of Developmental Delay Syndrome (DDS)

Soon after conception millions of nerve cells multiply and start growing. At this stage the nerves are immature; they are like young trees with a few branches (called dendrites). The trunk is the axon which is what the electrical signals pass along.

Dendrites grow towards other nerve cells and connect with them via a synapse. Synapses allow the nerve cells to send and receive signals to each other. When a nerve cell receives a signal it is stimulated to grow more dendrites and thereby make new connections to other cells. This first wave of brain cells develops while in the womb, and that is what gives us the potential for intelligence.

Not all the nerves in a baby’s brain make connections; these nerves die through lack of stimulation. This type of cell death is called Apoptosis, and is part of normal brain development. The stronger nerves create synapses and survive. The percentage of nerves lost through apoptosis varies; we think it depends on both genetics and the environment.

The brain of a human baby at birth is undeveloped both in terms of growth and maturity.

New research shows that the human brain contains special brain cells, von economo neurones, which develop 4 months after birth. This second wave of brain cells can impact on the ability of the cells a child is born with to do their job.

Apart from humans, von economo neurones are found only in the brains of the great apes, however only in humans does this second wave of brain cells develop after the birth.

This new wave of cells in the human brain is what makes us unlike other animals. It is only humans who suffer from learning and behavioural difficulties.

The von economo nerve cell migrate to four different areas of the brain: the orbital frontal, the dorsolateral and the anterior and mid cingulate cortex. These areas are found in the very front of the brain called the prefrontal cortex.

Delayed maturation of the very front of the brain is the underlying cause of Developmental Delay Syndrome.

Being born with immature brains makes us vulnerable to various stressor.
These include:

Birth trauma and foetal distress
Level of estrogen in mother’s blood during pregnancy.
Genetics. If the mum suffers from DDS there is a 32% chance of it being passed on. 70% if the DDS is on the father’s side.
Lack of certain nutrients and essential fatty acids.
Too many E numbers, salt, sugar and additives.