Diseases of Synaptic Cleft

Synaptic Cleft has an important role in psychiatric and neurologic conditions. Some of the important diseases are mentioned below:

Autism Spectrum Disorder

This type of disease has spectrum disorders including Asperger Syndrome, autism, and pervasive developmental disorder. Some of the common symptoms are the affected individual lack of social communication and delay in stereotypy and language. The synaptic level plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Mutations affect the adhesion molecules in the synaptic cells which are seen to be connected with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Fragile X Syndrome: Mental Retardation

This is the most common disorder inherited form of mental retardation. Common symptoms are reduced intellectual ability, hyperactivity, anxiety, developmental delay, and hypersensitivity to stimuli.

Alzheimer’s Disease

This is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects older age people. A-beta amyloid formed in Alzheimer’s disease causes a significant decrease in synaptic plasticity. It is also characterized by a decreased number of synapses in the hippocampus, subcortical regions of the brain, and cerebral cortex.

Addiction

Synaptic alteration is seen in different types of addictions. Chronic administration of drugs changes in synaptic proteins and dendritic spines. It affects the synaptic plasticity.

Synaptic Cleft: The neurons are the functional units of the nervous system which transmit electrical impulses from one neuron to the other. The space between the two neurons across the impulse which is transmitted by a neurotransmitter is called the synaptic cleft. The synaptic cleft is also known as the synaptic gap. It is important for the cells to communicate using chemical transmission.