1.

) Craniorachischisis is the most severe type of neural tube defect in which both the brain and spinal
cord remain open; both anencephaly and spina bifida (from the cervical region to the lumbar or sacral
region of the spine) are present.

Anencephaly is the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp that occurs during
embryonic development.

A myelomeningocele (pronounced my-elo-men-IN-go-seal) is a defect of the backbone (spine) and spinal

cord. Before birth, the baby's spine, the spinal cord and the spinal canal do not form or close normally. A
myelomeningocele is the most serious form of spina bifida.

An encephalocoele is a congenital deformity in which intracranial contents herniate through a defect in

the skull.

2.) Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a cephalic disorder in which the prosencephalon (the forebrain of the
embryo) fails to develop into two hemispheres.

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a neurological disorder marked by a distinctive port-wine stain on the
forehead, scalp, or around the eye. This stain is a birthmark caused by an overabundance of capillaries
near the surface of the skin.

Tuberous sclerosis, or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), or epiloia (acronym of "epilepsy, low
intelligence, adenoma sebaceum"), is a rare multisystem genetic disease that causes benign tumors to
grow in the brain and on other vital organs

3.(

Stage 1: 0 to 10 months
Neurons and connections growing.
Pregnant woman should stay as stress-free as possible, take folic acid, B6 & B12, stimulate this young
developing brain with sounds and sensations. Mother should avoid toxins, cigarettes, heavy metals,
alcohol, drugs.

Stage 2: birth to 6 years

Development of voluntary movement, reasoning, perception, frontal lobes active in development of
emotions, attachments, planning, working memory, and perception. A sense of self is developing and
life experiences shape the emotional well being.
By age six, the brain is 95% its adult weight and peak of energy consumption.
Caregivers need to provide nurturing environment and daily individualized communication. Negative or
harsh treatment may come with emotional consequences in the future.

Stage 3: 7 to 22 years
The neural connections or ‘grey’ matter is still pruning, wiring of brain still in progress, the fatty tissues
surrounding neurons or ‘white’ matter increase and assist with speeding up electrical impulses and
stabilize connections. The prefrontal cortex is the last to mature and it involves the control of impulses
and decision-making.
Therefore, teenagers need to learn to control reckless, irrational and irritable behavior. Avoiding drugs,
alcohol, smoking, unprotected sex and substance abuse.

Stage 4: 23 to 65 years
Finally, the brain reaches its peak power around age 22 and lasts for 5 more years. Afterwards, it’s a
downhill pattern. Last to mature and the first to go are the brain functionality of executive control
occurring in the prefrontal and temporal cortices. Memory for recalling episodes start to decline,
processing speed slows and working memory is storing less information.
Best approach is to stay mentally active, learn new things, stay physically active and eat a very healthy
diet. Avoid toxins, cigarettes, alcohol and mind-altering drugs.

Stage 5: older than 65 years

Brain cells are lost in the critical areas such as the hippocampus responsible for processing memories.
Learn new skills, practice mediation to promote neutral emotions, exercise to improve abstract
reasoning and concentration.
Avoid stress or incorporate stress reducing mediation and exercises.
Eat a healthy diet with foods to nourish one’s level of dopamine.

"Schizencephaly is a developmental birth defect. It is characterized by abnormal slits or clefts in the

cerebral hemispheres of the brain. People with clefts in both hemispheres commonly have
developmental delays, delays in speech and language skills, seizures, and problems with brain-spinal
cord communication.

Lissencephaly, which literally means "smooth brain," is a rare, gene-linked brain malformation
characterized by the absence of normal convolutions (folds) in the cerebral cortex and an abnormally
small head (microcephaly). In the usual condition of lissencephaly, children usually have a normal sized
head at birth.
Pachygyria is a developmental condition due to abnormal migration of nerve cells (neurons) in the
developing brain and nervous system. With pachygyria, there are few gyri (the ridges between the
wrinkles in the brain), and they are usually broad and flat. The condition is also known as "incomplete
lissencephaly."

Gray matter heterotopia (singular heterotopion) is a neurological disorder caused by clumps of grey
matter (ectopic nodules of neurons) located in the wrong part of the brain. It is characterized as a type
of cortical dysplasia.

Last: Canavan disease is a progressive, fatal neurological disorder that begins in infancy. It is caused by
an inherited genetic abnormality: the lack of an essential enzyme causes deterioration of the white
matter (myelin) in the brain, thereby preventing the proper transmission of nerve signals.