​In psychiatry, we work to help patients overcome their symptoms and disabilities at very different stages of their lives, from early childhood to adolescence into adulthood and old age.

The papers in this issue of the Journal are focused on illnesses that present at the two ends of the age spectrum, infancy and old age.

The papers involving neurodegenerative disorders have important clinical implications for our readership providing evidence supporting the optimal treatment of behavioral disturbances and psychotic symptoms in patients with dementia and PD [Parkinson's Disease] .

​ The papers on ASD and fragile X syndrome characterize patterns of aberrant neural development, bringing to our awareness the possibility of identifying early-life neural risk markers for these illnesses, as well as treatment strategies instituted prior to the onset of significant symptoms that could target alterations in aberrant neurodevelopmental processes.