We’ve all been there. In the grocery store or at the mall or at the amusement park, when a child starts to act out, much to the chagrin of the parents. It’s uncomfortable for the parents and the spectators alike. The misbehaving child may be having a tantrum because mom or dad denied them a toy, or the child may be experiencing emotions and impulses that he or she cannot control.
A new study published in Neurology Genetics shows a link between Gaucher disease type III and behavioral problems.
Gaucher disease is a rare genetic disorder resulting from little or no activity of a specific enzyme.
Because the gene that causes this condition is recessive, both parents must be carriers. Even then, their chances of passing along the trait are low. It is usually diagnosed early in a person’s life.
Of the three types of this condition, only type III displays the abnormal behaviors that are noted in the study. Type III affects the central nervous system, thereby the chances of behavioral abnormalities are increased.
The study that found the link between aggressive and angry behavior and Gaucher disease type III was conducted by doctors in Egypt and the United States. The children taking part in the study were all Egyptian, 34 in all. More than two thirds of the parents noted that their children displayed these aggressive behaviors, though all 34 children exhibited acts of anger and aggression in both proactive and reactive manners during the study.
Proactive anger and aggression were categorized as harassment or bullying to establish dominance. Reactive anger and aggression were defined as breaking social norms after a perceived offense or slight.