Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Mentally Disabled - Mental Retardation
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Mental retardation is defined by three things. First, the person must have had the condition since childhood, or age 18 years or younger. Second, the person has a score of 70 or less on intelligence tests, or IQ tests. Third, the person has limitations in at least two aspects of living skills, such as:
What is going on in the body?
People with mental retardation have reduced intellectual function. Sometimes it is because the brain has not formed properly. Or the brain is damaged after the child is born.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Mental retardation can be caused by a many factors, both before and after the child is born. More than 500 genetic disorders can cause mental retardation. Three are listed here:
The following pregnancy-related problems in the mother can also cause mental retardation in the baby:
Birth-related stresses may cause brain injury and result in mental retardation. Premature birth and low birth weight are often associated with mental retardation. Birth trauma and lack of oxygen may cause brain damage.
Childhood infections, toxins, and accidents can also cause mental retardation. These include the following:
Factors related to poverty and cultural deprivation may also lead to mental retardation: