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Today, 07 November 2009

› Malema’s life in danger

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› Nedbank, ANCYL make up

› Hofmeyr addresses Joost

Yesterday, 06 November 2009

› ANCYL, BMF back Maroga

› Vanilla Ice, ice baby?

› Eskom boss 'slaughtered'

› I have fallen hard - Joost

› Eskom boss 'pushed'

Question

Please may I have some information about lissencephaly and what causes it?

Answer

Lissencephaly, also called agyria, is a rare disorder in which the normal convulutions of the brain are missing. One of the main fissures of the brain, the Sylvian fissure, is also poorly formed and the brain has the appearance of a three to four month foetal brain.

The condition is probably caused by problems with the migration of nerve cells early in the development of the embryo. The reason why this happens is not known.

Infants born with this condition do not grow and reach their milestones normally. They have small heads and marked developmental delay and a severe seizure disorder. They often have small eyes and a poorly developed optic nerve.

There is no cure for the condition.