There are many leading causes of mental retardation. It can be caused by any condition which impairs development of the brain during birth or in the childhood years. The major causes of mental retardation are problems during pregnancy, problems at birth, problems after birth, poverty and cultural deprivation, and genetic conditions. During pregnancy the use of alcohol or drugs by the pregnant mother can cause mental retardation. Smoking, malnutrition, certain environmental containment, and illnesses are increasing risk during pregnancy of mental retardation. If prematurity occurs

The U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention reviewed bicycle deaths and injury data from 1984 through 1988 ,and found that 1,000 people died each year due to bicycle crashes. (Sack. Et al. 1991) Head injury was involved in 62 percent were involved in those deaths, about 181,000 suffered head juries. (Sack Et al., 1991) The Center for Disease and Prevention reported that if all bicyclists had worn helmets during their recreation, one death could have been prevented every day and one head injury could have been prevented every four minutes. (Sack Et al., 1991) The same data showed that each year more than 138,000 children between ages three and one had suffered head injuries due to bicycle crashes. Around 245 children died of these hits to the head. (Sacks Et al., 1991) A third of head injuries due to bicycle crashes and falls are traumatic and can result in physical or mental impairment. (The National SAFE KIDS Campaign, undated)

Through Newborn Screening, more disabilities and PKU are caught in the early stages of life now. This also helps the prevention of Mental Retardation dramatically. Unfortunately, preventing maternal PKU is more challenging. Accessing a special diet for those diagnosed with PKU is recommended for life. It is often discontinued during adolescence. It is important that these teens stay on their diet so that when they become pregnant their newborn child will not be affected by mental retardation or other birth defects. Preventing Mental Retardation by screening newborns for PKU is now considered one of the greatest public health successes of the 20th century. Hopefully within years to come there will be more prevention research to help prevent Mental Retardation.

With the use of a routine blood screening in the 1960\'s, all states now screen newborns for phenylalanine levels, with the result of mental retardation from PKU have virtually been eliminated. (Guthrie, 1992) Treatment now requires eliminating foods naturally high in protein to remove phenylalanine from the diet within the first few weeks of birth and maintaining a protein restricted diet through adolescence and through life. (Levy, 1990) With the effectiveness of the treatment of PKU another problem arose, maternal PKU. This occurs when some woman with PKU becomes pregnant after discontinuing a low phenylalanine diet. The result was that their babies became mentally retarded. The fetus was exposed to toxic levels of phenylalanine that may have resulted in severe mental retardation or possibly death. (Koch & de la Cruz, 1991)

Some topics in this essay:
Mental Retardation, Newborn Screening, Thompson Et, Health Organization, Sack Et, Sacks Et, KIDS Campaign, Lead Exploration, Disease Prevention, Train Trainer, mental retardation, et al, brain injury, newborn screening, et al 1991, al 1991, sack et, lead poisoning, alexander 1998, due bicycle crashes, head injury, lead poisoning prevention, due bicycle, sack et al, causes mental retardation,