Why do children with PKU develop intellectual disabilities?
A) Unmetabolized amino acids accumulate and affect the brain.
B) Essential axons lack myelin sheaths.
C) Dendrites and synapses fail to form in associative areas of the cortex.
D) Their immune systems do not fight off brain infections.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

PKU is caused by a genetic defect that impairs the metabolism of the amino acid phenylalanine. Unmetabolized phenylalanine and its byproducts accumulate in the blood and brain of affected individuals. High levels of phenylalanine can cause damage to brain cells and interfere with neurotransmitter production, leading to intellectual disabilities.

Why Do Children with PKU Develop Intellectual Disabilities