ABSTRACT
A number of endocrine and metabolic disorders impact on central nervous system (CNS) function. For example, the thyroid plays a critical role in growth and development and a deficiency of thyroid hormone in early life has a profound effect on many organ systems, including the developing brain (Werther, 1994). Inborn errors of metabolism such as phenylketonuria, glycogen storage disease, and galactasaemia result from autosomal, recessive enzyme defects (Thompson, 1994). When an enzyme is defective, the substrate normally metabolised by that enzyme may accumulate to levels that are toxic to the brain and other organ systems. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is a disorder of glucose metabolism. Glucose is the major energy source for the brain and adequate supplies are essential for normal neuronal activity.
