Toward an Understanding Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Novel Insights From Molecular, Behavioural and Neuroinflammatory Mechanisms

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases that can result from abnormal brain development and impact a person's capacity for thought, communication, behaviour, and movement. Since we currently lack targeted therapies for NDDs, they constitute a primary public health concern in our society, given that up to 3% of children are affected worldwide. Multiple gene variants associated with NDDs have been identified thanks to recent research and technical developments in genetics. These variations include the whole range of mutations, including inherited and de novo mutations, from single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) to copy number variants (CNVs), and have been discovered in hundreds of distinct genes. However, the vast majority of NDDs still have an unknown origin. Recent studies point to neuroinflammatory mechanisms and/or environmental factors, such as early life adversities, as fundamental aspects in the aetiology of different neurological conditions. To understand more about the biology of these conditions, a multi-disciplinary approach that brings together studies in human and animal models is crucial.

The goal of this Research Topic is to greater understand the behavioural aspects and molecular underpinnings and their implications in NDDs. This Research Topic will aim to collect cutting-edge research studies on NDDs and psychiatric conditions in both human and animal models that examine the molecular mechanisms and pathways affected by neurodevelopmental conditions. These will include known genetic conditions as well as environmental risk factors for NDDs. Furthermore, we will highlight recent findings on inflammatory alterations found in psychiatric conditions as well as their interplay with neuronal and non-neuronal subpopulations. We will additionally consider studies on behavioural alterations in NDDs and their implication for the pathophysiology of NDDs, as well as related psychiatric disorders. A particular focus will be given to early life adversities and their implication for molecular and behavioural alterations in NDDs individuals and animal models. Finally, it will be discussed how these findings might influence the development of new therapeutic strategies.

We welcome Original Research, Case Reports, Methods, Reviews, and other articles addressing the above-mentioned aims. Specifically, we encourage submissions addressing the following topics:

• Novel gene variants associated with NDDs
• Transcriptomic alterations in neuropsychiatric conditions
• Behavioural and molecular alteration in NDDs individuals and models
• Analysis of inflammatory insults in NDDs and psychiatric conditions
• Translational research and novel treatments in NDDs
• Early life adversities in the aetiology of NDDs
• Current challenges in NDDs and psychiatric conditions