For example, schizophrenia typically appears around the 20s, but is rare in childhood. Why is it so rare to see in childhood?
In: Biology
There are certain developmental milestones that are “scheduled” to occur at specific times.
Everything for toddlers typically lines up for them to start speaking intelligibly at around 2 to 3 years old. Sometimes those factors “fail to launch” and sometimes you end up with an autistic child. They are normal babies until this stage, but the necessary changes go awry.
Because the brain is “scheduled” to make specific changes within specific time frames, when these changes go awry, diseases like schizophrenia or other mental diseases can occur. I have a schizophrenic parent, so was very relieved when I reached a milestone year and could consider myself likely safe from this occurring.
There are also other diseases that can typically occur within a specific age group, such as MS that typically manifests between one’s 20s and early 40s. So far, research has not isolated what the exact reason for this. It is theorized that it can be triggered by a stressor that occurs within that time frame, but still no idea why these years tend to bracket one’s susceptibility.
Latest Answers