Gender Differences in Neurological Conditions of Children

This chapter discusses some of the differences between the brains of boys and girls, in terms of early brain growth, normal development, and in some specific neurological conditions. It is not meant to be a comprehensive review, but rather an overview. At the end of the chapter there is a listing of several other neurological conditions/diseases in which there is a gender predilection. Neurologic disease can present in very different ways in children and adults, and also differs in boys and girls. Diseases may be specific to a certain developmental period (autism, Rett's syndrome, absence seizures) or they may affect the physical development of the brain (neuronal migration disorders). In some conditions, only children are affected due to shortened lifespan. In others life expectancy is normal and disease may be diagnosed in childhood and continue into adulthood (Tourette's syndrome). Children also may experience the same disease as adults, but with different symptomatology (migraines). With increasingly precise understanding of many genetic disorders, early diagnosis in childhood will permit appropriate genetic and prognostic counseling for families.