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Brain damage 'causes bad behaviour' Monday, 6 November, 2000, 23:59 GMT - Anti-social behaviour may be linked in some cases to brain damage suffered as a child, researchers have found. A team from the Institute of Child Health has found that brain damage inflicted on a specific area of the brain can lead to serious anti-social behaviour in puberty and adulthood. The discovery raises the possibility that brain scans could be used in future to determine which people are most likely to suffer from long-term behavioural problems following an accident. The ICH researchers examined the case of two boys who suffered brain damage early in life through accidents. In both cases the ventral region of the frontal lobe of the brain was damaged - this is the area above the eye sockets. By the early teens both boys were unable to control frustration or anger, could not monitor or control violent behaviour, had no insight into the consequences of their actions, and showed no concern for others. One was almost expelled from school as a threat to his peers, while the other has a criminal record, and a drink and drugs problem. The ventral part of the frontal lobes is thought to dampen down the desire to act on impulse - allowing people to learn how to behave appropriately. This role clearly develops throughout childhood, however the two boys showed no significant concerns about behaviour until puberty. Lead researcher Professor Faraneh Vargha-Khadem said: "We may be able to identify such cases in future, by brain scans following the accident. "Not only might we be warned of such future problems but we may be able to correct them." Professor Vargha-Khadem said the key to successful treatment would be to act as quickly as possible while the developing brain was most capable of adapting to change. "If some key function is damaged in childhood, it is well established that other parts of a child's brain can develop so as to pick up such functions. "Rigorous training in behaviour, social skills and rules of conduct would encourage other parts of the brain to acquire this crucial role." Related to this story: Amphetamine brain damage measured (28 Mar 00 | Health) Power pills 'may prevent brain damage' (02 Nov 00 | Health) Lead 'accelerates ageing' (24 Oct 00 | Health) Premature babies 'have lower IQs' (18 Oct 00 | Health) Iron deficiency 'reduces intelligence' (03 Aug 00 | Health) 'Lasting effects' of newborn pain (27 Jul 00 | Health) Internet links: Institute of Psychiatry Whole Brain Atlas Institute of Child Health BBC News Online: Health http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/health/newsid_1009000/1009486.stm janet paterson, an akinetic rigid subtype parkie 53 now /44 dx cd / 43 onset cd /41 dx pd / 37 onset pd TEL: 613 256 8340 URL: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ EMAIL: [log in to unmask] SMAIL: POBox 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada