CAUSES AND EFFECTS

Causes of Mental Retardation

A couple who is expecting a baby looks forward to the birth of their child with high
hopes and expectations. Fortunately, most babies are born in good health, with their brains and
bodies intact. Sometimes, of course a baby is born with physical and/or mental defects. One such
defect is mental retardation. There is no single cause of mental retardation, but researchers have
uncovered several causes, some of which are preventable.(thesis statement) The thesis statement
simply tell me what is the essay is all about that is the causes of mental retardation.
Brain damage due to genetic conditions is a well-known cause of mental retardation.
Most people are familiar with Downs Syndrome, which occurs more often in babies whose
mother are over 35 years old. Downs syndrome is caused by the formation of an additional
chromosome. The normal number of chromosomes for people is 46; babies born with Downs
syndrome have 47. Another chromosome-related cause of mental retardation is a malformation
of the X-chromosome. Evidently, the X-chromosome breaks in two, thereby altering the normal
development of the fetus. There are also several recessive-gene diseases that result in mental
retardation. For example, an infant born with recessive-gene diseases called phenyleketonuria
will end up with the profound mental retardation because this disease affects the transmittal of
information between the cells in the brain, particularly the neurons in the frontal lobes.
Fortunately, blood test can detect this problem at birth, and immediate measures can be taken to
limit the damage. Another disorder caused by recessive genes is Tay-Sachs disease, which is
found primarily among Jewish families of northeastern Europe ancestry. This disease also affects
the nerve cells, though not in the same way as phenyleketonuria. But there are blood test that can
detect carriers, so it can be prevented.
Not all brain damage resulting in mental retardation occurs because problems in the
genetic makeup of the infant. Certain infectious disease that the mother may contract during
pregnancy can adversely affect the developing brain of the baby, particularly if the mother
catches these diseases during the first three months of her pregnancy. The most commonly
known diseases include rubella(German measles), herpes simplex and syphilis. Because these
diseases are infectious, to a certain extent they are preventable.
Another preventable cause of mental retardation in newborns relates to what the pregnant
woman ingest. Certain drugs are known to hinder the development of the babys brain. In the

early 1960s, for instance, some pregnant women suffering from pregnancy-related nausea were
prescribed a drug called thalidomide. This drug interfered with the development with the embryo
and resulted physical deformation and mental deficits. These women had no way of knowing at
the time what this drug could cause, but now we know that many drugs can adversely affect the
development-both physical and mental-of the fetus. The most easily preventable cause of mental
retardation is fetal alcohol syndrome. Drinking as little as one or two glasses of wine a week
during pregnancy could result in physical and intellectual impairments of the infant. The
mothers diet is also important during her pregnancy. Researchers find mental retardation more
common among babies whose mother malnourished during pregnancy.
Once the child is born, other factors can cause to mental retardation, such as head injuries
and environmental pollutants, such as mercury and lead. But even before the child is born, the
damage may already have been done. Fortunately, much of this damage can be prevented by the
pregnant woman. Genetic counseling, caution to avoid infectious diseases, avoidance of drugs,
including alcohol and proper diet can increases the chance that a woman will bear a child whose
intellectual functioning in the normal range.

-Information from Gerald c. Davidson and John M. Neale

Abnormal Psychology : An Experimental Clinical Approach, 4th ed.
(New York : Wiley, 1986). Pp. 407-415

ESSAY REVIEW
This is an example of cause and effect essay. This essay consists of five paragraphs. The essay is
made up of conclusion, body that consists of five main topic and conclusion. This essay is great
because it is well organized. The reader can understood this essay well because the flow of the
content is systematically in place. If I could give comment, maybe the conclusion should be in
other different paragraph so that the reader would not get confuse.
Thesis statement for the essay is there is no single cause of mental retardation, but
researchers have discovered several causes, some which are preventable. When I read this thesis
statement eventually it gives me some idea of what the essay is all about that is the causes of
mental retardation. There are five topic sentences in this essay and each of the topic sentence is
well supported with examples and explanations. The first topic sentence is brain damage due to
genetic conditions is a well-known cause of mental retardation. Then, the first topic sentence is
supported by brief but informative examples. The example explains how the formation of
additional chromosomes leads to Downs syndrome. The second topic sentence is there are also
several recessive-genes diseases that result in mental retardation. The topic sentence is followed
by example of phenylketonuria disease. A disease where an infant is born with recessive-genes
and how the disease can lead to mental retardation. Thirdly, certain infectious disease that the
mother may contract during pregnancy can adversely affect the developing brain of the baby,
particularly if the mother catches these diseases during the first three months of her pregnancy.
And again this topic sentence is supported by examples of disease that if the mother caught
during pregnancy will affect the developing brain of the baby. The forth topic sentence is another
preventable cause of mental retardation in newborns relates to what the pregnant woman ingest.
Then is stated there the intake of the mother during pregnancy will eventually affect the baby.
The fifth topic sentence is once the child is born, other factors can cause to mental retardation,
such as head injuries and environmental pollutants. Then, it is given afterwards the examples of
environmental pollutants that can cause mental retardation. Next, the conclusion of this essay
provides recommendations and suggestions on how the pregnant women can prevent mental

retardation from occur. In my opinion, this is an example of good essay. This essay is very
informative, not just giving new and wise knowledge but also can help the pregnant mother to
take care of themselves and the baby by the suggestions given.