Tag: childhood development

Categories : Diet and Nutrition PaediatricsTags :

Major Study Highlights Benefits – and Risks – of Plant-based Diets in Children

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Photo by cottonbro studio

Vegetarian and vegan diets can support healthy growth when carefully planned with appropriate supplementation, finds a major new meta-analysis – the most comprehensive study to-date of plant-based diets in children.

A team of researchers, from Italy, USA and Australia, analysed data from over 48 000 children and adolescents worldwide who followed different dietary patterns, examining health outcomes, growth and nutritional adequacy. They found that vegan and vegetarian diets can be nutrient-rich and support healthy growth, but also carry a risk of deficiencies if key nutrients are not obtained through fortified foods or supplements.

The peer-reviewed study, published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, also suggests that plant-based diets may offer additional health benefits for children – including improved cardiovascular risk profiles – compared with omnivorous diets that include meat, fish and other animal-derived foods.

This large meta-analysis is the most comprehensive study to date of plant-based diets in children under 18 years of age, examining data from 59 studies across 18 countries. It compared lacto-ovo-vegetarian (which include dairy products and eggs, but exclude meat, fish and poultry) and vegan diets (which exclude all animal-derived foods) with omnivorous diets across a wide range of nutritional and health outcomes in 7280 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 1289 vegans and 40 059 omnivores.

The study found that vegetarian children consumed more fibre, iron, folate, vitamin C and magnesium than omnivores, but they had lower intakes of energy, protein, fat, vitamin B12 and zinc. While evidence on vegan diets was more limited, similar patterns emerged.

“Notably, vitamin B12 didn’t reach adequate levels without supplementation or fortified foods, and calcium, iodine and zinc intakes were often at the lower end of recommended ranges, making them important nutrients to consider for children on plant-based diets,” explains the study co-author Dr Jeannette Beasley, an Associate Professor in the Departments of Nutrition and Food Studies and Medicine at New York University.

“Vegan children, in particular, had especially low calcium intake.”

Health benefits

Despite these risks, both vegan and vegetarian children displayed more favourable cardiovascular health profiles than omnivores, with lower total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – the “unhealthy” form of cholesterol.

Growth and body composition measures indicated that children on plant-based diets tended to be leaner than omnivores: vegetarian children were slightly shorter and lighter, with lower body mass index (BMI), fat mass and bone mineral content. Vegan children also had shorter stature and lower BMI scores.

“Our analysis of current evidence suggests that well-planned and appropriately supplemented vegetarian and vegan diets can meet nutritional requirements and support healthy growth in children,” states lead-author Dr Monica Dinu, who focuses on exploring how nutrition shapes health and well-being at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, at the University of Florence, in Italy.

Parents: take an informed approach

Plant based diets remain entirely achievable for children and can offer environmental advantages as well as health benefits. The authors stress that families should not be discouraged from choosing vegetarian or vegan diets for ethical, environmental or health reasons. Instead, they recommend that parents approach these diets with informed planning and, where possible, seek support from clinicians such as dietitians and paediatric health professionals. With attention to a few key nutrients, these diets can fully meet children’s needs during periods of rapid growth while reducing nutritional risks.

“We hope these findings offer clearer guidance on both the benefits and potential risks of plant-based diets, helping the growing number of parents choosing these diets for health, ethical or environmental reasons,” Dr Dinu adds.

More research needed, but balance is key

The authors also emphasise the need for clear, evidence-based guidance to support families with planning healthy plant-based diets for children, who may have higher nutritional needs during periods of rapid growth and development.

However, the researchers caution that these results are limited by the cross-sectional design of most included studies, variability in methods and populations, and challenges in accurately assessing children’s dietary intake.

“In conclusion,” says fellow co-author Dr Wolfgang Marx, from the Food & Mood Centre, at Deakin University, Australia, “while well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are nutritionally adequate and beneficial for adults, there is far less clarity about their suitability for children – leading to inconsistent or even conflicting advice for parents.

“Our findings suggest that a balanced approach is essential, with families paying close attention to certain nutrients – particularly vitamin B12, calcium, iodine, iron and zinc – to ensure their children get everything they need to thrive.”

Source: Taylor & Francis

Categories : Ophthalmology PaediatricsTags :

Babies Learning to See After Being Born Blind

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Photo by Jeffrey Riley on Unsplash

A study conducted by University of Louvain (UCLouvain), published in Nature Communications, shows that part of the brain of babies born blind is permanently altered, while another part remains surprisingly intact. Babies’ brains are much more adaptable than previously thought: even if they cannot see at the very beginning of life, they can later learn to recognise the world around them.

Some babies are born with early blindness due to dense bilateral congenital cataracts, requiring surgery to restore their sight. This period of several months without vision can leave a lasting mark on how the brain processes visual details, but surprisingly little on the recognition of faces, objects, or words.

Using brain imaging, the researchers compared adults who had undergone surgery for congenital cataracts as babies with people born with normal vision. The results are striking: in people born with cataracts, the area of the brain that analyses small visual details (contours, contrasts, etc.) retains a lasting alteration from this early blindness. On the other hand, the more advanced regions of the visual brain, responsible for recognising faces, objects, and words, function almost normally. These “biological” results have been validated by computer models involving artificial neural networks. This distinction between altered and preserved areas of the brain paves the way for new treatments. In the future, clinicians may be able to offer visual therapies that are better tailored to each patient.

“Babies’ brains are much more adaptable than we thought,” explains Olivier Collignon, Professor at University of Louvain (UCLouvain). “Even if vision is lacking at the very beginning of life, the brain can adapt and learn to recognise the world around it even on the basis of degraded information.”

These findings also challenge the idea of a single “critical period” for visual development. Some areas of the brain are more vulnerable to early vision loss, while others retain a surprising capacity for recovery. “The brain is both fragile and resilient,” adds Olivier Collignon. “Early experiences matter, but they don’t determine everything.”

Source: Université catholique de Louvain

Categories : Lab Tests and Imaging Skeletal SystemTags :

When a Limp Isn’t Just a Sprain in Adolescents

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A timely X-ray can save young hips

Frog leg lateral view of the hips. Widening of the growth plate (physis) with blurring and irregularity of the femoral neck (metaphysis). Inferior offset of the head in relation to the neck (early slip).

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) is the most common adolescent hip disorder. It occurs when the ball at the top of the thigh bone (femoral head) slips off the neck of the bone through the growth plate (physis). A bit like an ice cream sliding off a cone… Dr Ryno du Plessis, a renowned orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon in the Western Cape, talks about what it is and why it is often misdiagnosed.

SCFE usually happens during growth spurts in children aged 9 to 16 years and is more common in boys and in children with obesity, endocrine disorders, or other risk factors.

Why is this problem often missed?

AP view of the hips. ‘Melting ice cream sign’: Femoral head (epiphysis) slipping off the femoral neck (metaphysis) though the growth plate (physis) like an ice cream melting from the cone.

Despite its frequency, SCFE is routinely misdiagnosed or diagnosed late – unfortunately, sometimes months after symptoms start. Studies show that over 50% of SCFE cases are not diagnosed at the first medical visit.

Here’s why:

  • Pain felt in the knee or thigh: Physicians often focus on the wrong joint and the hip is never X-rayed
  • Labeled as a groin strain: Adolescents in sports may be diagnosed with muscle strains or ‘growing pains’
  • Symptoms develop gradually: Children may limp without severe pain, leading to delayed concern
  • Physiotherapy prescribed early: Instead of imaging – patients are referred to physio – delaying diagnosis
  • Lack of hip-specific X-rays: It requires a frog-leg lateral X-ray.

Why does delay matter?

The longer the slip is left untreated, the more serious the outcome. Every week or month of delay increases the severity of the deformity, often silently.

Late diagnosis risks:

  • More severe deformity
  • Loss of bloody supply to the femoral head. This is known as avascular necrosis and can lead to pain, limited movement and eventually, hip collapse and osteoarthritis
  • Early-onset hip arthritis
  • Complex surgery

Children diagnosed early often need just one screw to stabilise the hip. Those who are diagnosed late may face major reconstructive surgery, longer recovery, and reduced hip function for life.

Red flags for parents, teachers and coaches

If you notice any of the following signs in a child or teen – especially those who are overweight – take it seriously and ask for a hip X-ray:

  • Limping for more than a week
  • Complaints of pain in the knee, thigh, groin, or buttock
  • Walking with the foot turned outwards
  • Stiffness or loss of motion in the hip
  • Sudden inability to walk or stand after a minor stumble (may indicate an unstable SCFE)

Radiology – diagnostic challenges

Dr Jaco Greyling, a radiologist from SCP Radiology, says SCFE diagnoses can be delayed due to several factors, including

  • Hip X-rays not ordered by the initial healthcare provider (eg, GP or physiotherapist)
  • Only a single anterior-posterior pelvis projection is performed, whereas a frog-leg lateral view must also be specifically requested by the referring physician. Radiologists should ensure the child returns for this view if it was not initially ordered
  • Findings in the pre-slip phase are subtle and may be missed, even by experienced radiologists

He says, ’the recommended imaging is an anterior-posterior pelvic view which shows malalignment and widening of the growth plate and a frog-leg lateral view, the most sensitive for detecting early or subtle slips.’

‘Key radiological signs,’ says Dr Greyling are:

  • Widening of the growth plate
  • Loss of height of the femoral head
  • Loss of alignment of the anatomical lines that intersect with the femoral head
  • ‘Melting ice cream sign’ slipping off the femoral neck at the growth plate (epiphysis).

Follow-up recommendations:

Dr Greyling suggests repeat imaging within two weeks if symptoms persist, and an early referral to a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and an MRI for patients with risk factors and ongoing pain.

Who’s at risk?

  • Children aged 9-16 years
  • Boys are at greater risk than girls
  • BMI in the overweight/obese range
  • Family history of hip disorders
  • Endocrine disorders: Hypothyroidism, growth hormone treatment, kidney disease

Treatment

Early SCFE is usually treated with in-situ fixation using one or two screws. The goal is to stabilise the rounded end of a long bone to prevent further slippage.

In cases where both hips are at risk (especially in young or overweight patients), pinning of the opposite hip as well is sometimes recommended to prevent it from occurring.

Severe or late cases have a high risk of AVN, which is the death of bone tissue caused by a disruption in its blood supply, leading to pain, stiffness, and potential bone collapse or joint destruction over time and permanent disability.

The take-home message

SCFE is treatable and preventable if recognised early.

If a child has an unexplained limp, especially with thigh or knee pain, don’t assume it’s just a strain. Ask the doctor directly: “Could this be SCFE? Should we get hip X-rays done?”

One simple question. One X-ray. It could save a child’s hip.


Categories : NeurologyTags :

Oxytocin Shines a Light into Parental Attachment and Sex Differences

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The developing brain of a two-week-old mouse pup under the microscope. The oxytocin system appears in green, the light-sensitive protein in red and cells that carry both show up in yellow. Cell nuclei are in blue. Credit: Weizmann Institute of Science

According to attachment theory, the attachment between an infant and a primary caregiver shapes the baby’s future social ties. Yet little is known about the biological mechanisms underlying childhood attachment, mainly because it is so difficult to study the young brain in natural conditions.

Now, scientists in Prof Ofer Yizhar’s laboratory at the Weizmann Institute of Science have developed a new, noninvasive research method that makes it possible to silence selected nerve cells deep within the brains of mouse pups without disrupting their natural behaviour. Using this method, the researchers investigated the role of oxytocin, a short protein released from nerve cells in the brain. While most oxytocin research has focused on adults, the new findings, published in Science, show that oxytocin also shapes the social behaviour of pups and may underlie emotional differences between males and females that emerge early in life.

Oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the “love hormone,” was once thought to simply promote sociability in adults. Over time, however, it became clear that its role is far more complex: In some circumstances, it intensifies behaviors and emotions far removed from love, such as anxiety or aggression. Recent research has also shown that young mammalian brains – including those of human children – are especially sensitive to oxytocin. In brain regions responsible for sensory processing, emotional regulation and social behavior, the number of oxytocin receptors peaks during early childhood: around ages two to three in humans, and two to three weeks in mice. Some studies have even linked oxytocin deficiency to childhood autism. Still, without sufficiently precise tools to examine neural activity deep within the developing brain, many aspects of the role of oxytocin in early life have remained a mystery.

“The findings may offer a clue as to why males and females diverge in their social behaviors and emotional worlds long before puberty”

To shed light on the subject, a team led by Dr Daniel Zelmanoff, a physician-scientist in Yizhar’s lab, developed a noninvasive technique to probe specific nerve cells in the young brain. The group, pioneers in the field of optogenetics – a technology that uses light to switch individual cells on or off – devised a method in which the targeted brain cells of mouse pups are infected with an engineered virus. This otherwise harmless virus introduces a foreign gene of mosquito origin that encodes a light-sensitive protein; when exposed to light, the protein “turns off” the nerve cell. In fact, the protein is so light-sensitive that the researchers could silence selected nerve cells deep inside the brain simply by shining red light on the pups’ heads.

“This new method allows us to peek inside the brain without disturbing the pups’ everyday lives, making it a powerful tool for studying nervous system development,” Yizhar explains. “It is especially useful for studying oxytocin because this hormone’s effects depend on social context – and our method lets us switch off the oxytocin system on demand, only during the exact situation we want to study.”

The researchers focused on oxytocin’s role during the temporary separation of a mouse pup from its mother and their reunion a few hours later – a situation familiar to every parent of a young child. The scientists observed increased oxytocin activity in the pup’s brain during separation, which returned to normal after reunion with the mother. Pups with an active oxytocin system during the separation gradually adapted to being alone in an unfamiliar environment, producing fewer ultrasonic vocalizations – the mouse equivalent of a baby’s cry. In contrast, pups whose oxytocin system was silenced did not adapt; they continued emitting distress calls at the same rate until reunited with their mothers. These findings show that the so-called “love hormone” also plays a critical role in coping with loneliness.

Attachment theory holds that children who are securely attached to their parents show distress when separated from them but are able to calm down over time, feeling free to explore their surroundings. “We discovered that mouse pups need an active oxytocin system in order to adapt to separation from their mothers,” says Yizhar. “This suggests that the oxytocin system plays a role not only in the brain of the parent, which was already known, but also in that of the infant. In addition, since oxytocin receptors are present in the sensory processing centers of the young brain, we hypothesize that this hormone also helps sharpen a pup’s senses when it is alone.”

Children do not quickly forget the experience of being separated from their parents, and this separation shapes how they behave when reunited. For example, a securely attached child separated from a parent for a few hours will seek contact upon reunion, and is quickly calmed. The researchers found that activation of the oxytocin system in mouse pups during separation not only strengthened them in the moment but also determined how they behaved when their mothers returned. These pups emitted more ultrasonic calls than usual, and the frequency of the calls grew as they got closer to their mothers. Using artificial intelligence, the team identified a distinct vocal pattern: Before attaching to the mother’s nipple, the pups made high-pitched, frequent calls; afterwards, their calls dropped in pitch and slowed in tempo.

“Activating the oxytocin system during separation increases the pup’s motivation to regain closeness to the mother when reunited,” Yizhar explains. “This is reflected in the heightened rate and unique pattern of their calls. We now understand that these ultrasonic vocalizations are much more than just crying: The high-pitched, rapid calls appear to signal a request for closeness, while the lower-pitched, slower-paced calls likely express a quick return to calm and a wish to remain attached. Of course, more research is needed to pin down the exact meaning of each vocalization type.”

In the next stage, the researchers explored whether oxytocin’s role in pups differs between the sexes, as it does in older animals. They found that female pups with an active oxytocin system emitted many more ultrasonic calls when reunited with their mothers than females with silenced oxytocin systems, whereas the calls of male pups were unaffected by the status of their oxytocin systems. “This is the first sex difference observed in oxytocin system activity at such an early stage of development,” Yizhar notes. “It may offer a clue as to why males and females diverge in their social behaviours and emotional worlds long before puberty.”

“Most known functions of oxytocin are shared by all mammals,” Yizhar concludes. “Still, future studies must check whether the hormone affects the development of social behaviour, emotional maturity and maternal attachment in the brains of children. If so, this could help us better understand what can go wrong in emotional and social development – as in autism spectrum disorder, for example – and how to intervene at an early stage.”

Source: Weizmann Institute of Science

Categories : Mental Health PaediatricsTags :

ADHD Drugs Are Being Prescribed Too Quickly to Preschool Children

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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

A Stanford University-led study has found that young children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often receive medication just after being diagnosed, which contravenes treatment guidelines endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The findings, from published JAMA Network Open, highlight a gap in medical care for 4- and 5-year-olds with ADHD. Treatment guidelines recommend that these young children and their families try six months of behaviour therapy before starting ADHD medication.

But paediatricians often prescribe medication immediately upon diagnosis, according to an analysis of medical records from nearly 10 000 young children with ADHD who received care in eight paediatric health networks in the United States.

“We found that many young children are being prescribed medications very soon after their diagnosis of ADHD is documented,” said the study’s lead author, Yair Bannett, MD, assistant professor of paediatrics. “That’s concerning, because we know starting ADHD treatment with a behavioural approach is beneficial; it has a big positive effect on the child as well as on the family.”

Medications not appropriate to under-6s

In addition, stimulant medications prescribed for the condition cause more side effects in young patients than they do in older children, Bannett said. Before age 6, children’s bodies don’t fully metabolise the drugs.

“We don’t have concerns about the toxicity of the medications for 4- and 5-year-olds, but we do know that there is a high likelihood of treatment failure, because many families decide the side effects outweigh the benefits,” he said. Stimulant medication can make young children more irritable, emotional, and aggressive.

ADHD is a developmental disorder characterised by hyperactivity, difficulty paying attention, and impulsive behaviour.

“It’s important to catch it early because we know these kids are at higher risk for having academic problems and not completing school,” Bannett said. Early identification and effective treatment for ADHD improve children’s academic performance. Research has shown that good treatment also helps prepare individuals with ADHD for many aspects of adulthood, such as maintaining employment, having successful relationships, and avoiding trouble with the law.

Complementary treatments

Behavioral therapy and medication, the two mainstays of ADHD treatment, have different purposes.

“Behavioral treatment works on the child’s surroundings: the parents’ actions and the routine the child has,” Bannett said. The therapy helps parents and kids build skills and establish habits compatible with how the child’s brain works.

The evidence-based behavioral treatment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics is called parent training in behavior management. The training helps parents build strong, positive relationships with their children; offers guidance in rewarding a child’s good behaviors and ignoring negative behaviors; and recommends tools that help kids with ADHD, such as making visual schedules to help them stay organized.

In contrast, medication relieves ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity and inattentiveness, with effects that wear off as the body breaks down each dose of the drug.

Both approaches are needed for most kids with ADHD to do well. But previous studies of preschoolers diagnosed at age 4 or 5 show that it’s best to start with six months of behavioural treatment before prescribing any medication.

Rapid prescriptions

The researchers analysed data from electronic health records for children seen at primary care practices affiliated with eight US academic medical centres. They began with 712 478 records from children aged 3, 4, or 5 years old and were seen by their primary care physician at least twice, over a period of at least six months, between 2016 and 2023.

From these records, the scientists identified 9708 children who received an ADHD diagnosis, representing 1.4% of the children in the initial sample. They found that 42.2% were prescribed medication within a month of their ADHD diagnosis. Only 14.1% of children with ADHD first received medication more than six months after diagnosis. The researchers did not have access to data on referrals to behavioural therapy, but since young children are supposed to try the therapy alone for six months before receiving medication, any who were prescribed medication sooner were likely not being treated according to academy guidelines. A smaller study of recommendations for behaviour therapy, published in 2021, found only 11% of families got the therapy in line with guidelines.

Children who were initially given a formal diagnosis of ADHD were more likely to get medication within the first 30 days than those whose medical charts initially noted some ADHD symptoms, with a diagnosis at a later time. But even among preschoolers who did not initially meet full criteria for the condition, 22.9% received medication within 30 days.

Barriers to behavioural treatment?

Because the study was based on an analysis of electronic medical records, the researchers could not ask why physicians made the treatment decisions they did. But in informal conversations with physicians, outside the scope of the study, the researchers asked why they prescribed medication.

“One important point that always comes up is access to behavioural treatment,” Bannett said. Some locales have few or no therapists who offer the treatment, or patients’ insurance may not cover it. “Doctors tell us, ‘We don’t have anywhere to send these families for behavioural management training, so, weighing the benefits and risks, we think it’s better to give medication than not to offer any treatment at all.’”

Bannett said he hopes to educate primary care paediatricians on how to bridge this gap. For example, free or low-cost online resources are available for parents who want to learn principles of the behavioural approach.

And while the study focused on the youngest ADHD patients, behavioural management therapy also helps older children with the diagnosis.

“For kids six and above, the recommendation is both treatments, because behavioural therapy teaches the child and family long-term skills that will help them in life,” Bannett said. “Medication will not do that, so we never think of medication as the only solution for ADHD.”

Source: Stanford University

Categories : Skeletal SystemTags :

Beyond Hormones: Researchers Define X and Y Chromosome Contributions to Height

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Photo by Monstera on Pexels

A Geisinger study provides new insight into height differences between adult men and women, demonstrating that Y chromosome genes contribute more to height than their X chromosome counterparts, independent of male sex determination. The results were published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Typical females have two X chromosomes, while typical males have one X and one Y chromosome. The differences between the X and Y chromosomes cause hormonal differences between males and females, but these differences have been insufficient to explain the average 13cm height difference between the sexes.

“Because height shows a large and reproducible difference between sexes and is widely measured, it serves as a valuable model for investigating the genomic factors underlying sex differences,” said Matthew Oetjens, Ph.D., assistant professor in Geisinger’s Department of Developmental Medicine and one of the study leads.

The Geisinger research team sought to determine the effects of sex-related factors on human height by examining height in people with an abnormal number of X or Y chromosomes, a genetic condition known as sex chromosome aneuploidy.

The team analysed genetic and clinical data on nearly one million participants enrolled in Geisinger’s MyCode Community Health Initiative, the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us cohort and the UK Biobank. Of these participants, 1225 had a sex chromosome aneuploidy. By incorporating people with more or fewer than two sex chromosomes into a model of height, they found that exchanging an X for a Y chromosome increased height by 3.1cm, independent of other sex-related factors, including hormonal differences. This result suggests that an estimated 23% of the average difference in height between men and women is explained by increased expression of shared genes on the Y chromosome relative to the X chromosome.

“Beyond its implications for understanding human height, this study provides broader insights into how sex chromosome aneuploidy research can uncover the mechanisms behind observed sex differences in various medical conditions,” said Alexander Berry, PhD, bioinformatics scientist and study co-lead.

SHOX, a gene found on both the X and Y chromosomes, is a known contributor to human height, but because two copies are found in both men and women, it has not been considered a likely contributor to the sex difference in height. However, recent studies have shown that SHOX is partially silenced on the second X chromosome in individuals with two or more X chromosomes. The Geisinger study’s results are consistent with the hypothesis that reduced SHOX expression in females results in a net difference in height between the sexes.

Source: Geisinger Health System

Categories : AllergiesTags :

Why Are Urban Children More Prone to Allergies?

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Study finds unique immune cell linked to risk

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Unsplash

A previously uncharacterised subset of immune cells may play a critical role in the development of allergic diseases and explain differences between urban and rural populations. The finding, published in the journal Allergy, provides new insight into how the immune system is shaped in early life – and why urban children are more prone to allergies than children from rural areas.

Led by researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) Department of Pediatrics, including MD/PhD student Catherine Pizzarello and senior author Kirsi Järvinen-Seppo, MD, PhD, the study uncovered a unique subpopulation of T cells known as helper 2 (Th2) cells with distinct molecular characteristics.

T-cells are the foundational immune cells that fight off infections, but there is evidence that this specific subtype is recognizing certain foods as allergenic and attacking them, according to Jarvinen-Seppo.

“These pro-allergic T cells are more inflammatory than anything previously described in this context,” said Järvinen-Seppo, chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at UR Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital. “They were found more frequently in urban infants who later developed allergies, suggesting they may be a predictive biomarker or even a mechanistic driver of allergic disease.”

The study compared blood samples from urban infants with those from infants in a farming community, specifically the Old Order Mennonites (OOM) of New York’s Finger Lakes region – known for their low rates of allergies. Researchers found that while urban infants had higher levels of the aggressive Th2 cells, OOM infants had more regulatory T cells that help keep the immune system in balance and reduce the likelihood of allergic responses.

While additional research is needed to identify a possible cause, Jarvinen-Seppo speculates that differences in the development of the gut microbiome between the two populations, and more exposure to “healthy” bacteria in rural children, may be a factor.

“The farming environment, which is rich in microbial exposure, appears to support the development of a more tolerant immune system. Meanwhile, the urban environment may promote the emergence of immune cells that are primed for allergic inflammation,” said Jarvinen-Seppo.

The work is part of a broader, NIH-funded investigation into how early-life exposures influence long-term immune outcomes. In 2023, Järvinen-Seppo’s team received a $7 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to study environmental, microbiome, and immune differences between OOM and urban infants. The goal is to continue this foundational work to uncover protective factors that could be translated into preventive therapies, including probiotics or microbiome-supporting interventions.

“If we can identify the conditions for this disparity between the different T cell subpopulations, we can potentially find solutions in allergic disease development,” Järvinen-Seppo said.

Source: University of Rochester Medical Center

Categories : PaediatricsTags :

Scientists Discover the Genes that Influence When Babies Start Walking

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Photo by Chayene Rafaela on Unsplash

In the first study of its kind, scientists analysed the genetic information of more than 70 000 infants. They identified 11 genetic markers influencing when babies start walking, thus offering multiple targets for future in-depth biological investigation. 

In a paper published in Nature Human Behaviour, the study found that genetics accounts for about a quarter of the differences in when children take their first steps.

For years, researchers knew that environmental factors could influence when babies begin to walk, but this new finding shows that genetics also has a major impact. It suggests that, just like with other traits such as height, some children may naturally start walking earlier or later because of their genetic propensity. 

Professor Angelica Ronald, Professor of Psychology and Genetics, said: “Most babies take their first step sometime between ages 8 months and 24 months, so it is a wide window in which this exciting milestone happens. It is a big moment for both parents and baby; it symbolises a new phase in a child’s life.”

Dr Anna Gui, an author of the study and a researcher at the University of Rome Tor Vergata and Birkbeck, University of London said: “Until now, we didn’t understand what causes the wide differences between children in when they take their first step. Parents might often worry that walking early or late is a bad sign or that they have done something wrong. We see that genetics play a considerable role in influencing the timing of this milestone.“

Walking isn’t just a key milestone in the development of a child, but it is connected in terms of genetic influences with many other important aspects of human development. The study found that the genetic factors influencing when children take their first step are partly the same genetic factors that influence brain development including the amount of folding and ridges in the outer surface of the brain (the “cortex”). Moreover, walking later within the typical range was linked genetically with less chance of developing ADHD. Finally, the study showed that relatively later onset of walking was influenced by some of the same genes involved in higher educational attainment.  

Prof Ronald added: “It is exciting to be able to discover the genes that influence when children learn to walk. Starting to walk independently is a major milestone for young children. We hope these new genetic findings can advance fundamental understanding about the causes of walking and be used to better support children with motor disorders and learning disabilities.”

She added that parents should still see a GP if there was concern, there is a lot of variety in when children take their first unaided step,

Led by scientists in the UK, the study was made possible through a large collaboration with scientists in the UK, Netherlands and Norway, and through UK and international funding including from the Simons Foundation for Autism Research Initiative.  

Categories : Cardiovascular DiseaseTags :

Divorce during Childhood Increases Odds of Stroke in Later Life

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Data on 13 205 adults suggests an increased risk of later life stroke among people who had experienced parental divorce in childhood

Photo by cottonbro studio

People whose parents divorced during their childhood may be at a greater risk of stroke later in life, according to a new study published January 22, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Esme Fuller-Thomson of University of Toronto, Canada, and colleagues. 

Each year, approximately 795 000 individuals in the U.S. have a stroke. Previous work has established many sociodemographic risk factors for stroke, as well as connections between adverse childhood events and stroke. In the new study, researchers looked specifically at the impact of childhood parental divorce among adults with no history of childhood abuse. They used data on 13 205 adults aged 65 and over from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

The study found that people who had experienced parental divorce before they were 18 years old had 1.61 times higher odds of having a stroke when compared to respondents who did not experience parental divorce (AOR=1.61, 95% CI=1.15-2.24). The association did not vary by sex, and remained even after controlling for known risk factors such as diabetes, depression, and small social support networks.

The current study was not designed to analyse the potential mechanism of this association, nor to prove causation. The conclusions may not be generalisable to younger generations, who have experienced overall higher rates of parental divorce. In addition, several potential confounding factors – including blood pressure, cholesterol, contraceptive use, age at parents’ divorce, and types of strokes – were not available in the data.

However, the authors say that their data supports an association between parental divorce during childhood and increased stroke risk, even in the absence of childhood abuse and other trauma. 

Senior author Esme Fuller-Thomson adds: “It is extremely concerning that older adults who grew up in divorced families had 60% higher odds of stroke, even after excluding those who had been physically or sexually abused as children. The magnitude of the association between parental divorce and stroke was comparable to well-established risk factors for stroke such as male gender and having diabetes.”

Provided by PLOS

Categories : Neurology PaediatricsTags :

Heart Rate Activity Influences When Infants Speak

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The soft, gentle murmurs of a baby’s first expressions, like little whispers of joy and wonder to doting parents, are actually signs that the baby’s heart is working rhythmically in concert with developing speech.

Jeremy I. Borjon, University of Houston assistant professor of psychology, reports in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that a baby’s first sweet sounds and early attempts at forming words are directly linked to the baby’s heart rate. The findings have implications for understanding language development and potential early indicators of speech and communication disorders.

For infants, producing recognisable speech is more than a cognitive process. It is a motor skill that requires them to learn to coordinate multiple muscles of varying function across their body. This coordination is directly linked to ongoing fluctuations in heart rate.

Borjon investigated whether these fluctuations in heart rate coincide with vocal production and word production in 24-month-old babies. He found that heart rate fluctuations align with the timing of vocalizations and are associated with their duration and the likelihood of producing recognisable speech.

“Heart rate naturally fluctuates in all mammals, steadily increasing then decreasing in a rhythmic pattern. It turns out infants were most likely to make a vocalisation when their heart rate fluctuation had reached a local peak (maximum) or local trough (minimum),” reports Borjon.

“Vocalisations produced at the peak were longer than expected by chance. Vocalisations produced just before the trough, while heart rate is decelerating, were more likely to be recognised as a word by naïve listener,” he said.

Borjon and team measured a total of 2708 vocalisations emitted by 34 infants between 18 and 27 months of age while the babies played with a caregiver. Infants in this age group typically don’t speak whole words yet, and only a small subset of the vocalisations could be reliably identified as words by naïve listeners (10.3%). For the study, the team considered the heart rate dynamics of all sounds made by the baby’s mouth, be it a laugh, a babble or a coo.

“Every sound an infant makes helps their brain and body learn how to coordinate with each other, eventually leading to speech,” Borjon said.

As infants grow, their autonomic nervous system grows and develops. The first few years of life are marked by significant changes in how the heart and lungs function, and these changes continue throughout a person’s life.

The relationship between recognisable vocalisations and decelerating heart rate may imply that the successful development of speech partially depends on infants experiencing predictable ranges of autonomic activity through development.

“Understanding how the autonomic nervous system relates to infant vocalisations over development is a critical avenue of future research for understanding how language emerges, as well as risk factors for atypical language development,” said Borjon

Source: University of Houston