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Review
. 2023 Nov 20;12(11):2017.
doi: 10.3390/antiox12112017.

Melatonin in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Critical Literature Review

Cyrille Feybesse  1 , Sylvie Chokron  2 , Sylvie Tordjman  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Melatonin in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Critical Literature Review

Cyrille Feybesse et al. Antioxidants (Basel). .

Abstract

The article presents a review of the relationships between melatonin and neurodevelopmental disorders. First, the antioxidant properties of melatonin and its physiological effects are considered to understand better the role of melatonin in typical and atypical neurodevelopment. Then, several neurodevelopmental disorders occurring during infancy, such as autism spectrum disorder or neurogenetic disorders associated with autism (including Smith-Magenis syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Rett's syndrome, Tuberous sclerosis, or Williams-Beuren syndrome) and neurodevelopmental disorders occurring later in adulthood like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are discussed with regard to impaired melatonin production and circadian rhythms, in particular, sleep-wake rhythms. This article addresses the issue of overlapping symptoms that are commonly observed within these different mental conditions and debates the role of abnormal melatonin production and altered circadian rhythms in the pathophysiology and behavioral expression of these neurodevelopmental disorders.

Keywords: autism; brain development; circadian rhythms; melatonin; neurodevelopmental disorders; schizophrenia; sleep disturbance; sleep–wake rhythms.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Antioxidant action and protective effects of melatonin.
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