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Developmental Medicine and Child... Apr 2009Cerebellar malformations are increasingly diagnosed in the fetal period. Consequently, their consideration requires stressful and often critical decisions from both... (Review)
Review
Cerebellar malformations are increasingly diagnosed in the fetal period. Consequently, their consideration requires stressful and often critical decisions from both clinicians and families. This has resulted in an emergent need to understand better the impact of these early life lesions on child development. We performed a comprehensive literature search of studies describing neurodevelopmental outcomes of cerebellar malformations between January 1997 and December 2007. Overall, the data suggested that children with isolated inferior vermis hypoplasia (IVH) and mega cisterna magna (MCM) have a good developmental outcome, whereas children with molar tooth sign/Joubert syndrome, vermis hypoplasia, pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) type II, and cerebellar agenesis experience moderate to severe global developmental delays. Reports for Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) were conflicting; however, the presence of a normally lobulated vermis and the absence of associated brain anomalies were associated with a more favourable outcome. Finally, children with isolated cerebellar hypoplasia experienced fewer impairments. Important methodological limitations highlighted include a lack of standardized outcome measure use in 79% of studies and the predominant use of retrospective study designs (85%), with 40% limited to case reports or case-series. In summary, rigorous outcome studies describing the spectrum of disabilities in survivors are urgently needed to accurately delineate the long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of cerebellar malformations.
Topics: Cerebellar Diseases; Cerebellum; Child; Child, Preschool; Developmental Disabilities; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Pregnancy; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 19191827
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2008.03224.x -
Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria (Sao... Sep 2008The objective of this update article is to report structural and functional neuroimaging studies exploring the potential role of cerebellum in the pathophysiology of... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this update article is to report structural and functional neuroimaging studies exploring the potential role of cerebellum in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.
METHOD
A non-systematic literature review was conducted by means of Medline using the following terms as a parameter: "cerebellum", "cerebellar vermis", "schizophrenia", "bipolar disorder", "depression", "anxiety disorders", "dementia" and "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder". The electronic search was done up to April 2008.
DISCUSSION
Structural and functional cerebellar abnormalities have been reported in many psychiatric disorders, namely schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, dementia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Structural magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported smaller total cerebellar and vermal volumes in schizophrenia, mood disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies using cognitive paradigms have shown alterations in cerebellar activity in schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In dementia, the cerebellum is affected in later stages of the disease.
CONCLUSION
Contrasting with early theories, cerebellum appears to play a major role in different brain functions other than balance and motor control, including emotional regulation and cognition. Future studies are clearly needed to further elucidate the role of cerebellum in both normal and pathological behavior, mood regulation, and cognitive functioning.
Topics: Anxiety Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Cerebellum; Dementia; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Schizophrenia
PubMed: 18833430
DOI: 10.1590/s1516-44462008000300016