Rett Disorder and the Developing Brain

Rett disorder, named after Andreas Rett who first described the condition in 1966, is preferentially found in females, and involves the functions on which intelligence and expression depend - learning, hand use and speech. The recent discovery of mutations in a specific gene, selectively silencing the expression of other genes, supports the hypothesis that the condition is a developmental disorder, which should be viewed in the context of early brain growth. This book presents a comprehensive review of the clinical, genetic, anatomical and physiological aspects of Rett disorder, calling on the expertise of a distinguished team of international experts in the field. The contributions bring our understanding of the disorder right up-to-date, as the study of the condition moves from an era of description into a time when there are real possibilities for beneficial interventions.