AIIMS starts centre for child neurodevelopmental disorders

The pediatric department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has started a centre for advanced research and excellence for childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. The research centre will focus on diagnostic aspects of these disorders with a focus on the genetic basis, which will help determine the disorders early. Also, the centre aims to make a national registry of these disorders for rehabilitation trials.

The AIIMS doctors received a grant from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the research. The doctors will focus on the genetic basis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Epileptic Encephalopathies and Muscular Dystrophies and comprehensive etiological work-up of Acute Encephalitis Syndromes.

"The genetic tests in the three mentioned disorders will help in antenatal counseling, preventing the further birth of affected children in the families. The antenatal diagnosis will also help in preventing further disabilities," said Dr A K Deorari, Head and Professor, Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS.

"A large number of patients come from peripheral cities to AIIMS as they do not get diagnosed or proper guidance. This initiative will help such patients as we are starting tele-consultation as well," he said.

The centre will largely help patients with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder through genetic tests, advanced diagnostic system, and rehabilitation. The center will also prepare a national registry with the details of all the enrolling patients which will help in research, policy making, diagnosis and for understanding clinical features and long-term outcome of disorders.

It will also use technology-aided rehabilitation strategies for children with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorders.

Currently, there are about 25,000 out-patients who visit the hospital for NDDs annually. Apart from twice-a-week routine morning out-patients, the division runs five specialty clinics on a weekly basis attending to 6,000 patients a year.