What causes delayed myelination?

Several conditions that disrupt normal myelination, such as periventricular leukomalacia, infections, and the leukodystrophies, are associated with significant developmental delays.

Which disorder is associated with the myelination?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. In this disorder, your immune system attacks the myelin sheath or the cells that produce and maintain it. This attack causes inflammation and injury to the nerve sheath and ultimately to the nerve fibers that it surrounds.

What causes demyelinating disease?

Demyelinating diseases are often caused by inflammation that attacks and destroys the myelin sheath. Inflammation can occur in response to an infection. Or it can attack the body as part of an autoimmune process. Toxins or infections can also harm myelin or may interfere with its production.

What happens if myelination does not occur?

This myelin sheath allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells. If myelin is damaged, these impulses slow down. This can cause diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

How common is delayed myelination?

Overall, the diagnosis of delayed myelination was inaccurately applied or missed in 15% of the patients in this series. Of the 14 patients identified as having delayed myelination, 10 had other central nervous system structural abnormalities seen on MRI, most commonly cortical atrophy.

At what age does myelination end?

Myelination (the coating or covering of axons with myelin) begins around birth and is most rapid in the first 2 years but continues perhaps as late as 30 years of age. Synaptic development is a more complicated issue.

Can demyelination be cured?

There’s no cure for demyelinating conditions, but new myelin growth can occur in areas of damage. However, it’s often thinner and not as effective. Researchers are looking into ways to increase the body’s ability to grow new myelin. Most treatments for demyelinating conditions reduce the immune response.

How is demyelinating disease diagnosed?

Demyelinating conditions, especially MS and optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve, are detectable with MRI scans. MRIs can show demyelination plaques in the brain and nerves, especially those caused by MS. Your healthcare provider may be able to locate plaques or lesions affecting your nervous system.

Is delayed myelination normal?

Although delayed myelination is a common neuroradiologic diagnosis, there are few or no data regarding the reliability of this diagnosis or radiographic and clinical findings in cohorts of such patients.