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Living with Neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly, hypotonia, and variable brain anomalies

A rare genetic condition starting in infancy with a small head, low muscle tone, seizures, and profound developmental delay.

Understanding Neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly, hypotonia, and variable brain anomalies

Neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly, hypotonia, and variable brain anomalies is a rare genetic condition that starts in infancy.

It causes global developmental delay and profound intellectual disability. Features can include low muscle tone, muscle stiffness, tight joints, seizures, breathing problems, and optic atrophy. The head is small, and facial features can include a tall forehead and high-arched palate. Brain imaging may show loss of brain tissue and delayed myelination.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Small head (microcephaly)
  • Seizures
  • Little or no speech
  • Low muscle tone in the trunk
  • Stiff arms and legs (spastic tetraparesis)
  • Feeding difficulties in infancy

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in PRUNE1 are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Should we have genetic testing for the PRUNE1 gene?
How can we support breathing, feeding, and seizures?
Which specialists should be on my child's care team?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesPRUNE1

GARD lists changes in the PRUNE1 gene. A child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent (autosomal recessive).

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: nmihba; prune exopolyphosphatase 1-related neurological syndrome; prune1-related neurological syndrome

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly, hypotonia, and variable brain anomaliesGARD ID 17985 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly, hypotonia, and variable brain anomalies.

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