What is Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum?
It’s something rare.
Two weeks ago, I went to get an MRI scan of my brain for something else. Yesterday, I went to my doctor for the results, he said that I was fine, except for one little thing. I have an underdeveloped Corpus Callosum. He did give me the letter to show it; however, I cannot understand the academic language of scientists. So, I went online and found out that the condition is called Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.
What is a Corpus Callosum?
It is a bundle of nerve fibres that connect with both hemispheres of the brain. It enables the right and left sides to communicate, sending signals back and forth. Otherwise, it acts like a bridge between the two hemispheres. The brain relies on this connection for many things, including interpreting language or emotions in others’ expressions on their face or body movements.
This means that when something happens on one side of your body or mind you get instant feedback from the other side; it also enables you to process things more efficiently because each hemisphere can use its strengths without interference.
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC)
It is a rare disorder that happens during the third trimester of pregnancy. It shows up as underdeveloped, partial, or absent in the brain. The cause of this condition is still not yet known, but it can be genetic.
This rare disorder may be due to exposure to fetal alcohol syndrome or an injury during pregnancy. Different symptoms will show depending on the side of the brain that is impaired, but they can include developmental delays and poor coordination skills.
These symptoms do show up for the first two years of life. However, it is important to note that not all children with this disorder will have the same symptoms or severity of Agenesis Corpus Callosum — and some may not even be diagnosed until later in life. The main cause for concern about having Agenesis Corpus Callosum would be if the child has lower intelligence, poor motor skills, or any other neurological problems arise as a result of it.
Signs
Here are some of the signs of Agenesis Corpus Callosum:
- Epilepsy
- Developmental delays, like walking or language skills.
- Problems eating and swallowing
- Headaches
- Auditory or visual impairment.
- Challenges with hand-eye coordination.
- Difficulties connected to social interactions.
- Speech repetition.
- Insomnia
- Cognitive challenges, such as learning disabilities.
Treatment
Because this is a birth defect, there is no known cure for it. However, depending on how the individual is affected by it, there are treatments for ACC. They include:
- Medication for seizures.
- Genetic counselling to see if it does run in the family.
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Shunt to drain the fluids of the brain
- And more
There are other diseases, like spina bifida that come from having ACC. Again, all this depends on the individual. There are some people with this defect, like myself, who are leading normal healthy lives.
From my experience, I can now understand why I had difficulties with certain things mentioned here. I’m not going to list them here myself, since it’s personal (I shared it with my family and a friend). But let me tell you, I have an article on one of the symptoms.
If you suspect that your child may have Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, the first thing you should do is visit your doctor.
References
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum — NORD. (n.d.). National Organization for Rare Disorders. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/agenesis-of-corpus-callosum/
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. (2021, November 1). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/6029-agenesis-of-the-corpus-callosum-acc
Corpus callosum — Queensland Brain Institute. (2017, November 10). Queensland Brain Institute. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/corpus-callosum
Pediatric Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum — Conditions and Treatments. (n.d.). Children’s National Hospital. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://childrensnational.org/visit/conditions-and-treatments/prenatal-care-pregnancy/agenesis-of-the-corpus-callosum
