Poverty in early childhood poisons the brain, the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Boston yesterday heard.Neuroscientists said many children growing up in very poor families with low social status experience unhealthy levels of stress hormones, which impair their neural development. That effect is on top of any damage caused by inadequate nutrition and exposure to environmental toxins.
Studies by several US universities have revealed the pervasive harm done to the brain, particularly between the ages of six months and three years, from low socio-economic status.
Martha Farah, director of the University of Pennsylvania's centre for cognitive neuroscience, said: "The biggest effects are on language and memory. The finding about memory impairment - the ability to encounter a pattern and remember it - really surprised us."
The Scientific Indian
Science as a way of life
Search this blog
Profile
I am working on some very smart things to say here. Really. Meanwhile, there's this and this. Welcome.
Suggestions
Recent Posts
- Road rage in India and Zinc intake
- India Calling
- Scifi Contest Stories published
- iDesk
- The Arrow of Time
- TheScian Scifi Contest 2008 - Results!
- A piece of India on the moon
- Future of Scifi
- Burma Blogger Nay Phone Latt jailed for 20 years
- Scifi Contest Update
Recent Comments
- Art on Road rage in India and Zinc intake
- Art on Road rage in India and Zinc intake
- Art on Road rage in India and Zinc intake
- Howell-Detroit on I refute it thus
- udit on Scifi Contest Stories published
- Udit on TheScian Scifi Contest 2008 - Results!
- Selva on TheScian Scifi Contest 2008 - Results!
- Abhinav on TheScian Scifi Contest 2008 - Results!
- carlos on Frogs with Claws
- Ashutosh on The Arrow of Time
RSS Feed
Today's recommendations
Archives
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
« Morals and people of cloth | Main | The Letter Writer of Mumbai »
Poverty in early childhood poisons the brain
Category: Prime Stream
Posted on: February 18, 2008 12:23 PM, by Selva
Find more posts in:
Medicine & Health
TrackBacks
TrackBack URL for this entry:

Having problems commenting? (UPDATED)