Neural Tube Defects (NTD): Folic Acid and Pregnancy

TIn the US, one in 1000 births is affected by neural tube [4] defects (NTD). A neural tube [4] defect is a birth defect involving the malformation of body features associated with the brain and spinal cord. An NTD originates from and is characterized by incomplete closure of the neural tube [4], which is an organizer [5] and precursor of the central nervous system [6]. In humans [7], incomplete closure of the neural tube [4] during embryonic development results in anatomical abnormalities such as anencephaly (a lack of skull and brain), hydranencephaly (cerebral hemispheres replaced with sacs of cerebrospinal fluid), spina bifida [8] occulta (incompletely closed lower spinal cord), iniencephaly (severe retroflexed head and spinal defects), and encephalocele (a sac-like protrusion from an opening somewhere along the midline of the skull).