Environmental health and developmental disabilities: a life span approach.

Prenatal and childhood environmental exposures are an underrecognized primary cause of intellectual and other developmental disabilities. In addition, individuals with established disabilities are vulnerable to further harm from subsequent environmental exposures. In individuals with communicative impairment or limited ability to independently escape from hazards, these subsequent exposures, too, may occur undetected or untreated.

Role of topiramate in adults with intractable epilepsy, mental retardation, and developmental disabilities.

The efficacy and safety of topiramate in patients with intractable mixed seizures, mental retardation (MR), and developmental disabilities (DD) were investigated. Twenty patients (eight females and 12 males) aged 21-57 years old with intractable epilepsy with mixed seizures, MR [profound (five), severe (three), moderate (two), mild (eight) and borderline (two)], and DD were treated with adjunctive topiramate 25 mg per day for 1 week followed by titration to clinical response (range 50-350 mg per day). Other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were decreased simultaneously.