Agenesis of Corpus Callosum - Essay Example

Your Full Podufaly Bauer ENG 201 26 September, Informative Essay on Agenesis of Corpus Callosum There are numerous medical conditions thatare common to most people in modern societies. However, some sicknesses and bodily functions are not so commonplace. The purpose of this essay is to present information about a medical group that the writer of the article belongs to. To this end, the paper will seek to objectively synthesize the factual elements and aspects of the agenesis of the corpus callosum and in areas include the causes, implications and control of Agenesis of Corpus Callosum with an emphasis on the roles of the National Organizations for Disorders of the Corpus Callosum. This paper aims at members of the society who are not aware of this apparently rare disorder. Due to my contact with the organizations and entities that deal with Agenesis of Corpus Callosum, I am well informed and positioned to critically present reasoned arguments about the phenomenon, how it occurs and its implications. The corpus callosum is a part of the human brain. It includes a series of fibers that bundle up beneath the cortex in the eutherian brain at the longitudinal fissure (Porter 1). The corpus callosum links the two parts of the brain and this enables the brain to be given directional and other forms of guidance that promotes stability in human actions (Gobius and Linda 2). A figure of the position of the corpus callosum is presented in figure 1 below: Figure 1: Positioning of the Corpus Callosum Although the corpus callosum is an important part of the brain, there are numerous forms of disorders that makes it difficult for it to function as it is supposed to function. One of these challenges is the agenesis of the corpus callosum. The agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is a condition in which people are born with a total or partial absence of the corpus callosum. This is a major issue that gives way to numerous situations that affect the lives of people affected by ACC. This is attributed to the disruption of fetal brain development in the 3rd to 12th week of pregnancy and this could be attributed to inherited genetic factors, infections and genetic coding errors during fetal formation (Davilia-Gutierrez 293). The process of agenesis of the corpus callosum relates to a long-term medical condition and its clinical signs and symptoms can be detected through neurological studies and MRI scans that show the extent of cereberal and extracereberal malformations (Davilia-Gutierrez 298). Agenesis of the corpus callosum is a major issue that most patients have to live with. The fundamental essence of the organization that I belong to, is to help people living with agenesis of the corpus callosum and related complications and provide necessary assistance to such persons. Through this process, such patients can have a meaningful life and get appropriate treatment to ease the impact of the challenges that come with these conditions. “The National Organization for Disorders of Corpus Callosum (NODCC) is a nonprofit corporation established in 2002 by professionals, parents and individuals with a personal commitment to understanding corpus callosum disorders” (The National Organization for Disorders of Corpus Callosum Para 1). This implies that the NODCC is an organization formed by persons who seek to initiate research and studies into the situation in order to improve the quality of life amongst people who have ACC. This is a social responsibility that helps to reduce the burdens on parents of children who have this disorder. The fundamental mission of the NODCC is “to enhance the quality of life and promote opportunities for individuals with disorders of the corpus callosum, and raise the profile, understanding and acceptance of these disorders through research, education, advocacy and networking.” (The National Organization for Disorders of Corpus Callosum Para 4). This implies that the organization exists to ensure that people who have ACC and related disorders can be given a high level of care and also gain acceptance into the society. The organization also seeks to promote studies and enhance research into the field of ACC studies in order to provide important findings that can accelerate the level of healthcare that persons suffering from ACC and other forms of corpus callosum disorders could benefit from in order to get better lives and enhance their options in life. In terms of operations, the organization seeks to promote respect and inclusion in helping people with ACC. Respect has to do with getting the word out that the classes of people with ACC and other corpus callosum disorders are like any other human beings in the society. However, society must view them in the right way and manner as they are. Also, the organization seeks to promote diversity and present the minority of people with corpus callosum disorders as ordinary members of the society who deserve equal rights. The fundamental approach used by the NODCC utilizes includes the dissemination of information and the education of people in the wider society (Hill and Philpott 70). This approach is to provide the wider society with the guidance on how the situation occurs and solutions that have been discovered in the past. This will help them to understand and provide support to parents and persons with disorders with their corpus callosum systems. This also enables the society to share in the challenges and build a more human approach and view to the people with the challenges of corpus callosum. Some of the signs and symptoms of Agenesis of the corpus callosum include vision impairments, low muscle tone, poor motor coordination and other physical challenges (Davilia-Gutierrez 295). These challenges come with other syndromes like the Andermann syndrome, Menkes syndrome and other diseases that have varying complications (Gobius and Linda 32). Due to the large scope of specificity of cases and conditions, there is the need for most people of this disorder to visit at least three different specialists to get their case diagnosed and brought under control. Additionally, the lack of a definite cure to this condition means that the best treatments on the market are those that enhance the quality of life of patients and this comes with a diverse range of possible actions and activities. The role of the NODCC is to simplify the process of gaining specialized care. This involves lobbying in the healthcare community to ensure there is better communication and a stronger understanding of the case to ensure expeditious treatment. Finally, the NODCC provides the opportunity and impetus for the conduct of further research into the ACC and related conditions. Clearly, such studies require a lot of money and a lot of resources. And there is the need for funds to be raised. Also, there is the need for lobbying to be conducted to attain grants and other forms of money to help to provide in-depth analysis and reviews of the case in order to provide improved and enhanced services to persons living with ACC and related disorders. Hence, the NODCC mobilizes these activities and provide a strong representation of ACC victims in their quest for better treatment conditions and medications. In conclusion, the corpus callosum is a part of the brain that links the two hemispheres of the brain. Agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) occurs when the brain develops without the proper development of the corpus callosum. There are other disorders in this class that have varying effect on the patients of such conditions. The National Organizations for the Disorders of the Corpus Callosum (NODCC) is an organization that provides information, education and research into ACC and its related conditions. This helps to provide an enhanced quality of life to persons with ACC. Also, it promotes social integration and acceptance of ACC patients into the society through education. Finally, the NODCC coordinates and promotes research into the condition in order to simplify the care process and procedure for ACC patients. Works Cited Davilia-Gutierrez, Guillermo. "Agenesis and Dysgenesis of the Corpus Callosum." Seminars in Pediatric Neurology 19(4) (2002): 292-301. Journal. Gobius, Ilan and Richards Linda. Creating Connections in the Developing brain. New York: Biota Publishing, 2011. Print. Hill, Janelle and Don Philpott. Special Needs Families in the Military: A Resource Guide. Washington, DC: Government Institutions, 2011. Print. Porter, Dianne. Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum: A Beast Within. London: iUniverse, 2010. Print. The National Organization for Disorders of Corpus Callosum. Welcome to the National Organization for Disorders of Corpus Callosum. 4 December 2002. Web. 26 September 2014. Read More