Lissencephalic is an adjective that refers to a specific medical condition relating to the brain's structure. It comes from the combination of two Greek words, "lissos," meaning smooth, and "encephalon," meaning brain. Lissencephalic describes a condition in which an individual's brain lacks the normal convoluted folds or ridges, called gyri, on its surface.
Typically, during normal brain development, the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for higher brain functions, grows and forms a series of folds. However, in lissencephalic individuals, this process is disrupted, resulting in a smooth brain surface. This smoothness occurs due to a failure in neuronal migration, where nerve cells do not travel to their correct positions during embryonic development.
Lissencephaly is often associated with various neurological anomalies and typically manifests with severe developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, seizures, and muscle spasms. The severity of symptoms can vary among affected individuals. In more severe cases, individuals may experience difficulties with voluntary movements, feeding, and breathing.
There are several types of lissencephaly that can be differentiated based on the severity of the smoothness and other associated brain abnormalities. These types include classic lissencephaly, cobblestone lissencephaly, and subcortical band heterotopia. Medical professionals may diagnose this condition using neuroimaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans.
Although lissencephaly is a rare condition, the impact on affected individuals can be significant, necessitating lifelong medical care and support.
