Figure 1:

Mutations in the genes encoding proteins associated with synaptic function are found in a subset of patients with NDs. Mutations in the genes encoding chromatin-associated proteins are found in a subset of patients with NDs via misregulation of synapse-associated genes. Various types of environmental stress affect the function of chromatin-associated genes. All of these genetic alterations and epigenetic misregulation by environmental stresses lead to the misregulation of brain function