Research programs focused on child health and development. Covers pediatric research standards, infant nutrition and sleep, rare disorders, and childhood diabetes.
A new study found that child deaths fell by 5.2% and 3.4% after Brazil's 2014 comprehensive smoke-free legislation, reducing infant mortality rates and health inequalities. The research suggests strengthening smoke-free laws can help protect children's lives, particularly in middle-income countries.
A new study found that a genetic variant of the FTO gene is associated with increased food intake in children who are at risk for obesity, even before they develop the condition. The study suggests that early identification of this behavior can inform best practices for intervention and prevention of obesity in children.
A novel method of embedding child psychiatric care in an urban pediatrics clinic increases access to and engagement in psychiatric care among primarily Latino patients. The study found that nearly two-thirds of referred patients completed evaluations, with younger children and those with a history of therapy more likely to do so.
A new study reveals that over 60% of infant deaths in car seats occur due to misuse, with most happening at home. The safest place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat surface outside of these devices.
Researchers found toddlers actively initiate conversations with their parents, choosing topics and driving the conversation. The study used automatic speech recognition technology to analyze over 1,400 hours of recordings from 17 toddlers and their parents.
A new study by Ohio State University and Purdue University found that young children are better teachers when it comes to learning new words. The research suggests that toddlers learn more effectively from other children, rather than adults or family members.
A new psychology study found that elementary school children lose confidence in being scientists but remain confident in doing science. The researchers used action-focused language to ask children about their abilities in science, which led to increased confidence and interest, particularly among Hispanic children.
Researchers found that children with an immigrant father were two times more likely to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than those with two Finnish parents. The study highlights the importance of schools and clinicians becoming aware of intergenerational trauma transmission.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia present two innovative studies on virtual reality technology for training children with autism to interact with police, and a routine developmental screening method to identify developmental deceleration. The studies show promise in improving early detection of autism spectrum disorder.
A new study by the University of York found that young children who hear a large amount of adult speech tend to have better cognitive skills. The researchers also discovered that high-quality adult speech can benefit children's linguistic development and positive parenting styles can reduce restless behavior.
New research reveals that obese children are over a third more likely to require a hospital emergency department visit than their normal weight counterparts. The study found a 36% increased risk of visiting the emergency department among obese children compared to healthy weight children.
Research at Children's National Hospital found that infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) exhibit lower heart rate variability, a marker of autonomic nervous system stress. This study suggests heart rate variability as a valuable physiological biomarker for detecting brain injury in babies with HIE.
Research at Children's National Hospital found that breastfed preterm infants have higher levels of key metabolites, such as creatine and choline, which support brain growth and development. This study suggests breastfeeding may play a crucial role in neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm infants.
A recent study found that parents of older, healthier newborns with less social support had lower resilience scores and more symptoms of depression and anxiety. The research suggests that parental resiliency is closely linked to the quality of parent-child interactions and long-term child development.
The Children's National Hospital NICU implemented a quality-improvement project that reduced unintended extubations by 60% over 10 years through standardized taping methods, bedside review of events, and reducing chest X-rays. The project saved an estimated $1.5 million per year and improved patient safety.
A new study from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that autistic girls use more cognitive process words than boys, despite similar levels of autism severity. This suggests the need for sex-informed screening and diagnostic methods to identify girls with autism at an earlier age.
Research published by the American Psychological Association found that children as young as 5 use facial information to determine how to behave toward people. The study also showed that children's judgments from faces have consequences for behavior, similar to adults.
Researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago have discovered a protein that causes intestinal permeability in NEC, which can lead to sepsis or death. Inhibiting a special molecule called ROCK may prevent this process, offering a new potential treatment strategy.
Children with chronic constipation exhibit heightened sensory sensitivity, particularly in oral processing, leading to feeding problems and avoidance behaviors. This association could transform clinical practice by incorporating sensory considerations into treatment plans.
The PCV10 pneumococcal vaccine significantly reduced the incidence of serious pneumococcal disease among children under five years old, with a 92% decline in cases involving the ten targeted strains. The vaccine also provided herd immunity benefits by reducing disease transmission among older, unvaccinated age groups.
Researchers have identified a rarely-seen type of DNA mutation as the cause of an inherited metabolic disorder, a condition where the body can't break down specific nutrients. The gene responsible for the disorder is intact but a repeat expansion error prevents it from functioning.
A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a significant increase in autism prevalence in New Jersey, with the rate rising 43 percent from 2010 to 2014. The state's autism rate is now one in 35 among 4-year-olds, significantly higher than the national average of 1.7 percent.
The ClinEpiDB database has released new data from the MAL-ED study, which investigated environmental exposures early in childhood and their impact on growth and development. The dataset contains over 1.3 million observations covering anthropometrics, nutrition, vaccination status, and more.
Research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood found that many UK foods marketed to children have misleading health and nutrition claims, contributing to childhood obesity. The study called for stricter regulations on food labelling and product content to reduce the risk.
A new study found that young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to. This 'million word gap' could be one key in explaining differences in vocabulary and reading development.
Researchers identified three tools traffickers use to force a psychological bond: severe power imbalance, alternating brutal and seductive behavior, and social isolation. This 'trauma coercive bonding' disrupts children's development, leading to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and repeat victimization.
Researchers have successfully tested a new ultrasound technology on human patients, enabling detailed images of internal structure and blood flow. The vector flow imaging method provides advanced detail of blood flow patterns within cardiac chambers, across valves, and in the great arteries.
Children born into poverty show weaker brain activity and poorer distractor suppression in the left frontal cortex area of the brain that is involved in working memory. Researchers used portable neuroimaging technologies to measure brain activity in children aged four months to four years in rural India.
The university will conduct research on the health and well-being of migrant children using an evidence-based parenting program. The goal is to improve parent-child relationships, alleviate stress, and boost children's social-emotional health. The center will work with community partners to design and implement projects.
Researchers develop AI method to extract clinically important movement patterns from normal video recordings, enabling early CP detection and assessment of neurological development. The study shows promise for automated movement analyses in diverse applications, including out-of-hospital screening and therapeutic decision-making.
Researchers discovered a key regulator of IGF-1 bioavailability in children with severe growth disorders. Electronic health records can help identify patients who could benefit from genetic testing to diagnose undiagnosed short stature.
A joint Chinese-UK study has revealed that around one in a hundred people in China have an autism spectrum condition, similar to the Western world. The research used a validated screening method and included mainstream school children, confirming under-diagnosis of autism in China.
Aging causes slower image processing speeds, leading to fewer new mental images and a perceived passage of time. This phenomenon is attributed to physical changes in the human brain's tangled webs of nerves and neurons.
A new study found that children with Duarte galactosemia are at no greater risk of long-term developmental abnormalities than their unaffected siblings, regardless of their exposure to milk as infants. The research team studied 350 children between the ages of 6 and 12 in 13 US states.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin studied how parent-child collaboration influences children's learning behavior, particularly in a real-world setting. Parents who encouraged their children to explain or explore showed unique effects on child behaviors, with those who explored building more complex gear machines.
A new NIH study identifies distinct brain connectivity and activity patterns in children with anhedonia, a condition characterized by loss of interest in activities. The research may aid in developing targeted treatments for this condition.
A national survey found that only 15% of hospitals surveyed routinely provided all recommended safety planning elements to patients who present for self-harm. The study highlights successes in emergency department management, but also identifies areas for improvement in reducing the risk of repeated self-harm and suicide.
A new study by New York University researchers found that five-month-old infants can differentiate between laughter from friends and strangers. The ability to detect the nature of social relationships is thought to be an early emerging tool in human infancy, possibly due to a detection system using vocal cues.
New research by University of British Columbia shows LGBTQ Americans dispersing and diversifying their living spaces beyond traditional gayborhoods. The study reveals a range of emerging neighborhoods catering to specific subgroups within the LGBTQ community, including queer communities of color and same-sex couples with children.
A new study found that a home-visiting intervention for parents of maltreated children significantly improved their children's compliance at age 3. The intervention increased parents' sensitivity, which partially mediated the effect on child behavior.
Research tracked drinking habits of over 4,000 people from teens to thirties and found most mothers returned to pre-pregnancy drinking patterns within five years. The study also reported that 15% of mothers with a child aged five or older reported binge drinking in the past week.
Researchers at Aarhus University have found that exposure to a combination of perfluorinated substances in pregnant women significantly impairs fetal growth and development. The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, highlights the potential health risks associated with these environmental chemicals.
An international team of scientists has identified the cause of a devastating pediatric brain disorder by discovering mutations in the VARS gene. The findings suggest that children with this disorder may benefit from treatments to support protein synthesis in the brain.
A recent study from Oregon State University reveals that over 63% of American children and 55% of Americans live in 'asset' poverty, meaning they have limited assets to rely on during financial crises. This form of poverty poses significant challenges for families, especially those headed by single mothers.
A study by Libertad González and colleagues found that children born prematurely due to the scrapping of the 'baby cheque' subsidy weighed less at birth and had more hospitalizations, mainly respiratory issues. However, no long-term effects were observed on their health.
Researchers from University of the Arts Helsinki recommend incorporating dance into schools' curriculum to boost cognitive performance, social interaction, and group cohesion among children. The study highlights dance as a valuable tool for learning, especially for children with kinaesthetic and creative learning styles.
New studies provide insight into the struggles of children on the autism spectrum with co-occurring ADHD symptoms, highlighting difficulties with adaptive behavior and brain connectivity. Researchers found a strong relationship between ADHD symptoms and adaptive behavior scores in both home and school settings.
Research at Children's National Hospital created a novel preclinical model that mimics persistent interneuron loss in preterm human infants. The study identified specific interneuron subtypes as potential therapeutic targets to prevent or lessen neurodevelopmental risks.
Researchers developed a new protocol to identify febrile infants under 60 days old who are at low risk of serious bacterial infections. The study showed that using simple laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood cell count, can confidently exclude these cases, reducing unnecessary invasive procedures and hospitalizations.
A study published in JNeurosci found that children's brains have trouble focusing on speech in noisy environments, a phenomenon known as the 'cocktail party effect'. This ability develops from childhood to adulthood and may not fully mature until the teenage years.
A recent study from the University of South Australia found that watching TV is strongly associated with obesity in children, even more so than other types of sitting. The research also revealed differences between boys' and girls' sedentary behaviors, with boys spending more time playing video games and having higher body fat.
A new psychology study by New York University and Princeton University found that describing science as actions, rather than identities, encourages girls to show greater persistence in science activities. The study suggests that efforts encouraging girls to enter science might benefit from focusing on the activity of doing science.
Children spontaneously use symmetry in drawings of plant life between the ages of 4 and 7. The research found that girls use complex symmetries more frequently than boys and that complexity increases with education level. This study provides insight into children's geometrical thinking and its connection to graphical expression.
A study found associations between depression during pregnancy and postpartum periods with smoking, intimate partner violence, and pre-existing medical conditions like migraines or premenstrual syndrome. The findings suggest that different perinatal depression trajectories have distinct characteristics, paving the way for individualize...
A comprehensive study on ST3GAL5 deficiency, a rare genetic disorder affecting ganglioside synthesis, provides insights into its clinical characterization and natural course. Researchers hope to develop pre-symptomatic therapies using gene replacement techniques.
Researchers discovered two mechanisms in newborn infants that enable them to pick out individual words from speech. The study, published in Developmental Science, highlights the innate skills of humans at birth.
A Baylor University study highlights the need for expanding access to surgery for children with conditions that can be corrected through surgery. The research found that nearly 250,000 children in Somaliland are unable to access necessary treatment due to lack of access to healthcare and financial constraints.
Researchers developed cassava with significantly higher iron and zinc concentrations through genetic modification, which can improve diets and health in West Africa. The 'biofortified' cassava retains mineral levels after processing and cooking, providing a nutritionally available source of essential micronutrients.
Children tend to prefer friends with similar accents, even if they're exposed to diverse accents daily. Regular exposure doesn't seem to change these preferences, according to a recent study published by the American Psychological Association.
Research finds no significant difference in mental health conditions between incarcerated and community youth who died by suicide. However, study highlights environment as a potential contributor to increased suicides among incarcerated youth. Practical recommendations include timely suicide assessments and targeted prevention programs.