Neurodevelopmental disorders: current research status and future challenges

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a broad group of highly heterogeneous diseases gathered by a common feature that is the alteration of brain development. Disorders belonging to this group include autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorders, intellectual disability (ID) and many others. Over the last decades, efforts in basic research and the development of new genetic tools have allowed to create a direct link between alterations in genes that codify for proteins involved in crucial cellular functions and the aetiology of these disorders. However, new evidences point out that genetic susceptibility is not the only responsible accounting for the genesis of these disorders but rather its origin can be ascribed to the concerted action of genetic and other lesser understood risk factors such as maternal immunological dysfunctions, nutritional deficiency, early life stress and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the mechanism by which environmental factors and genetic susceptibility finally result in NDDs onset has still remained elusive.



The aim of this Research Topic is to provide an overview of the recent progress made in the research field of NDDs considering different aspects of their biology. Particularly, we wish to collect articles in order to highlight how the interplay between genes and other risk factors may affect molecular and cellular pathways involved in brain development and function. A better understanding of these mechanisms is of crucial importance in order to identify common pathways and potential targets involved in multiple NDDs. Furthermore, improving NDDs modelling using different experimental systems is of crucial importance to capture complementary aspects of NDDs such as species-specific features of diseases and genetic heterogeneity by using 2D and 3D human cellular models, and circuits and brain-body interactions using animal models. Altogether, the integration of this body of evidence could result in better therapeutic approaches for treating these disorders.



We encourage authors to submit reviews, perspectives, methodological and original research article on the following themes:

1) Functional changes in synaptic transmission and neuronal circuits during early developmental stages and during adulthood in models of neurodevelopmental disorders.

2) Modelling neurodevelopmental disorders with iPSC and brain organoids.

3) Microbiome, inflammatory processes and nutritional deficiency in neurodevelopmental disorders.

4) Genetic and molecular heterogeneity in neurodevelopmental disorders.

5) Therapy: state of the art and perspectives.