Articles tagged with Puberty
A large-scale study of nearly 12,000 children aged 9-10 found that disordered eating behaviors are more common than previously thought, with a prevalence of up to 5% in some cases. Children with higher BMIs and those further along in puberty face an elevated risk, highlighting the need for targeted prevention efforts.
A study published in Environmental Research found that prenatal exposure to specific phthalates is associated with a slightly elevated risk of children starting puberty between 7 and 10 years old. Higher prenatal exposure to certain phthalates, such as DEHP, was linked to an increased risk of puberty onset, particularly in normal-weigh...
A study of 56 transgender youth found that longer treatment with puberty-delaying medications was associated with lower bone mineral density. The researchers recommend discussing the impact of these medications on bone health and exploring interventions to improve bone health.
A University of Illinois study examines how mothers' emotional involvement helps youth cope with peer stressors during middle school. The research reveals that youth who experience positive mother-child interactions and high maternal affect are more likely to engage in active coping strategies.
A new study by EPFL researchers finds that stress during early adolescence leads to increased body fat and reduced sociability in males, but not females. The researchers identified a biological link between stress-induced fat gain and impaired brain function, specifically the NAD+/Sirtuin-1 pathway.
A study of 104 transgender and nonbinary youths found that gender-affirming care reduces depression and suicidal thoughts over 12 months. The treatment significantly improved mental health outcomes in the participants.
A nationwide multi-cohort study found that male children who gained weight or grew faster in the first five years of life entered puberty at a younger age. Female children with faster weight gains during infancy and early childhood also started their periods earlier, suggesting sex-specific associations between early growth and puberta...
Research finds prepubescent female rodents outperform males in hippocampal long-term potentiation and spatial learning, reversing after puberty. The study proposes optimal teaching strategies should adapt to brain differences between sexes during this critical life stage.
A new study by University of Bristol researchers found increased body fat in females whose grandfathers or great-grandfathers started smoking before puberty. This study extends previous findings on paternal smoking and its effects on sons, now exploring the impact on daughters across multiple generations.
A study led by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia researchers used stem cells to implicate several genes involved in bodily functions associated with the hypothalamus. The findings could help clinicians identify potential causes of dysfunction for traits regulated by the hypothalamus, such as sleep and stress.
Researchers found that a receptor in the brain detects nutritional state and regulates puberty timing and growth rate, explaining why humans have been growing taller and reaching sexual maturity earlier over the past century. The discovery has immediate practical implications for testing children with growth delays.
A new USC study found a link between 'forever chemicals' and changes in glucose metabolism in Latina girls, potentially increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers measured the impact of PFAS on glucose metabolism over time among adolescents and young adults.
A study published in Pediatrics found that healthcare providers rarely discuss sexual health with adolescents, despite their importance for preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The researchers identified gaps between parent and adolescent perceptions of the need for these discussions.
A new study reveals that smoking during puberty can have negative consequences for future generations, including lower lung function and increased risk of obesity. Researchers analyzed data from the RHINESSA and RHINE studies, finding a link between pre-pubertal tobacco smoke exposure and health outcomes in offspring.
A new Penn State study found that parents of adolescents who experience puberty early may be more lenient when it comes to letting them consume alcohol. Adolescents who go through puberty early are at a greater risk for problem behaviors, including being two to three times as likely to drink alcohol.
Adolescents who experience early puberty are more likely to drink alcohol, with peer drinking and parental permissiveness contributing to this risk. Early maturing girls are particularly vulnerable, with a higher likelihood of binge drinking and substance use disorders.
A case report warns of a potential link between medical cannabis and early puberty in children with severe childhood epilepsy. The 2-year-old boy's testosterone levels were abnormally high after using cannabis oil, raising concerns about the hormonal consequences of cannabis use.
A study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that girls with excess body fat developed fully mature breasts more slowly but started their period sooner. The researchers also found higher levels of reproductive hormones, including testosterone, in girls with obesity.
Research suggests that lower testosterone during puberty increases the brain's sensitivity to it in adulthood. Men with lower testosterone levels throughout puberty showed greater brain activity in areas sensitive to faces when exposed to high levels of testosterone.
A new study by the City University of Hong Kong found that desexing cats before 4 months old can significantly reduce the number of unwanted kittens. The research analyzed data from over 52,000 cats and found that only 21.5% of female cats were desexed at four months or younger.
Adolescent stress can lead to long-term changes in brain function, resulting in learning difficulties and increased anxiety in adulthood. The study found that rats with impaired stress recovery had reduced cognitive performance and anxiety-related behaviors.
Girls living in single-parent households before age two are at higher risk of starting puberty earlier than their peers. The study, published in BMC Pediatrics, found that infant attachment insecurity and socioeconomic status may contribute to this association.
Research using objective measures found that boys and girls with earlier onset of puberty are at higher risk of self-harm. The study analyzed data from over 5,000 individuals and found a significant association between early peak height velocity and increased risk of self-harm.
A study of over 180 girls found that those entering puberty early have a longer window of susceptibility to breast cancer, with higher growth hormone levels and slower pubertal progression. This can be mitigated through healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercise, balanced diet, and reduced exposure to endocrine disruptors.
A study published in Hormones and Behavior found that oral contraceptive use affects brain structure and function, particularly in women who start taking them during puberty or adolescence. This can lead to altered stress response and changes in working memory processing.
Research by Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham found that dogs exhibit typical teenage behavior, such as ignoring commands and training difficulties, at around 8 months old. This behavior is more pronounced in dogs with insecure attachments to their owners.
A new study explored the relationships between pubertal changes, ethnic-racial identity, and mental health in young African American and Caribbean Black males. The study found that positive levels of ethnic-racial identity buffered the effects of early puberty, leading to higher self-esteem and lower symptoms of depression. The finding...
A study suggests that boys who enter puberty at an early age are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes as adults, with a 16% increased risk per year earlier puberty occurred. Early pubertal growth spurt was also associated with a higher risk of insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes.
A new study by the University of Waterloo found that hormonal changes around puberty cause sex differences in airway size, which can impact exercise performance and the development of respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma. Larger airways in males generally led to better breathing efficiency compared to females.
Researchers analyzed genome-scale data from male adolescents to understand changes in stem cells during puberty. They found that testosterone is crucial for maintaining mature testis development, and disruptions can lead to infertility and increased risk of testicular cancer.
Researchers have discovered that the protein deltaNp63 plays a vital role in supplying energy to the mammary gland during puberty, while also being implicated in aggressive forms of cancer. The findings suggest that targeting this protein could be a viable approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer without affecting normal dev...
A new study found that puberty may offer a window of opportunity to recalibrate cortisol responses in children who experienced early life deprivation, such as institutional care. As these children age, their stress hormone levels increase and become more responsive to stress, similar to those who were not affected by deprivation.
A study found that puberty can reverse the effects of early institutional care on stress reactivity. Cortisol levels rose with increasing pubertal stage in postinstitutionalized participants, similar to those without institutional care.
Researchers identify two molecules, PLXNA1 and PLXNA3, that help set up the sense of smell and pave the way to puberty. This finding may lead to a better understanding of Kallmann syndrome and its treatment.
Research shows that puberty affects brain networks differently in males and females, with boys experiencing increased connectivity and girls experiencing decreased connectivity. This study found significant changes in mood-related brain areas during puberty, which may be linked to the higher incidence of depression in girls.
A new study from the University of Bristol has linked puberty timing to bone strength, finding that teens who mature later may catch up on bone density but continue to have lower bone density into adulthood. The study suggests that late-maturing individuals may be at increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life.
A systematic review of menstrual cups suggests they are a safe option for menstruation management. The review found similar leakage levels to disposable pads or tampons, with some studies showing significant less leakage. Practice, peer support, and training are key to initiation and adoption.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that adolescent girls who reach puberty earlier are more likely to develop migraine headaches. The study, which followed 761 girls over 10 years, suggests that early exposure to estrogen may be a trigger for migraine in some girls.
Researchers identified a new developmental timing mechanism involving a long non-coding RNA in the microscopic roundworm C. elegans that controls the timing of sex-specific changes and behavior. The discovery provides insight into how genetic cues regulate the transition to adulthood in humans.
A study led by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that Madagascar girls experience significant gaps in knowledge about puberty, leading to inadequate guidance on sexuality and menstruation management. Improved toilet facilities are also needed to reduce challenges faced by girls in school.
Researchers have identified the lin-41 mRNA as a crucial target of the let-7 microRNA, driving the transition to adulthood and sexual organ formation in C. elegans. This finding may provide insights into human puberty disorders linked to genetic variations affecting let-7 activity.
A new study reveals that obesity in boys accelerates the start of puberty, with central and total obesity increasing the odds of early puberty. The study found that controlling obesity in children could help decrease risks of behavior problems and testicular cancer.
A new study attributes the link between earlier puberty and multiple sclerosis (MS) to body mass index (BMI), finding that increased BMI is also linked to a greater risk of MS. Researchers analyzed genetic data from over 329,000 women and found that people with an earlier age of puberty were more likely to develop MS.
A new paper reviews key theories and methods to study puberty, highlighting its importance in understanding adolescent development and welfare. The review emphasizes the need to integrate sociological and psychological impacts into research models, as current approaches focus solely on biological processes.
Researchers are analyzing hair samples to study how hormones and environmental factors influence puberty. The goal is to understand the mechanisms that trigger puberty and how personal experiences shape hormone changes.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that a child's height gap with their parents is a key predictor of when they will begin puberty. The study suggests that genetics do not play a major role in determining the age of puberty, but rather an individual's growth needs and body response to those needs.
Researchers have identified a group of genes that induce differences in the developing brains of male and female roundworms, triggering puberty. This genetic pathway may serve the same function in controlling human sexual maturation timing, providing new insights into sex-based brain differences.
Girls exposed to chemicals in toothpaste, makeup, and other personal care products before birth may experience puberty at progressively younger ages. The study found that daughters of mothers with higher levels of diethyl phthalate and triclosan experienced earlier puberty.
A long-running study of mothers and children found that chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and phenols are associated with earlier puberty in girls. The study suggests that these chemicals may mimic or interfere with natural hormones in the body, leading to an earlier onset of puberty.
A new Danish study from Aarhus University found that girls' pubertal milestones, such as breast development and acne, are occurring 3 months earlier than those of their mothers. Boys also reached several puberty benchmarks 6 months to a year earlier than in previous studies
A major study from Aarhus University found that children of mothers who smoked more than ten cigarettes a day during pregnancy entered puberty three to six months earlier. Early puberty is associated with an increased risk of diseases such as obesity and certain types of cancer.
Girls taking painkillers like paracetamol during pregnancy enter puberty on average one-and-a-half to three months earlier than expected. A large Danish cohort study suggests a 'dose-response' correlation between prolonged paracetamol use and early puberty in girls.
Undernutrition delays puberty onset by enhancing AMPK levels in the hypothalamus of female rodents. Overexpressing active AMPK also delays puberty, implying its role in regulating female puberty via kisspeptin signaling.
Researchers found that humans can identify parent-offspring resemblance from infancy, but it becomes more accurate with age. This study suggests that the ability to recognize kinship may be linked to increased facial similarity with parents before puberty.
The research found that earlier women had their first period, their sons started puberty earlier, and later women had their first period, their sons started puberty later. The association was also seen in daughters.
Scientists have identified a molecular mechanism that leads overweight female rats to experience early-onset puberty. The study found that the SIRT1 enzyme plays a crucial role in transmitting body weight information to the brain, affecting the expression of the Kiss1 gene.
Research suggests that weight gain between childhood and puberty increases the risk of developing asthma later in life, including for future generations. The study found no correlation between weight gain before or after puberty, but rather a link to overall inflammation during this critical developmental period.
A new study found that eight- to nine-year-old children are vulnerable to poor body image as hormone levels rise with the onset of puberty. The research, led by Dr. Elizabeth Hughes, suggests that strategies in schools and at home can help maintain a positive body image prior to puberty.
A new study from Purdue University finds that early puberty in white adolescent boys is associated with a higher risk of substance use. Testosterone activity, rather than physical changes or social pressures, contributes to this increased risk.
A population-based study in Gothenburg, Sweden identifies BMI change during puberty as a potential novel risk factor for adult heart failure in men. Boys who were normal weight at 8 years of age and became overweight during puberty were three times more likely to be diagnosed with heart failure as adults.