Research programs focused on child health and development. Covers pediatric research standards, infant nutrition and sleep, rare disorders, and childhood diabetes.
A study found that children perceived as 'overweight' by parents tend to gain more weight over time, possibly due to negative self-image and attempts to lose weight. The association was seen in both Australian and Irish families, with the link not explained by other factors.
A study by University of Adelaide researchers found that adding thiamin to fish sauce improves blood markers of thiamin status, making it a potential means of preventing thiamin deficiency in Cambodia. Thiamin deficiency can lead to serious health issues, including beriberi, which is often fatal in infants if left untreated.
Researchers found that increasing parental physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior correlates with increased physical activity behaviors in children. The study used movement monitors to objectively measure physical activity and found a significant association between parent and child behavior.
Researchers at Northwestern University's Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory have discovered a biological marker in the auditory system that can reliably diagnose concussions. The study found that children who suffered concussions had a distinct pattern in their brain activity when exposed to sound, which could be used to identify them.
Research from the University of Washington suggests that preschool-aged children can learn bias through nonverbal signals displayed by adults, such as tone of voice or facial expressions. Children are likely to generalize this learned bias to others, potentially leading to group bias and prejudice.
Research by Maria Gartstein and Sam Putnam found that toddler temperament differs significantly across cultures, with Chilean infants being the most active and Polish babies displaying sadness. The study suggests that parents' cultural values influence their children's behavior and overall temperament.
A new study published in Pediatrics found that children who experienced neglect and abuse are more likely to have time off work due to sickness and less likely to own their own homes by middle age. The researchers also identified poor reading and mathematics skills as a key factor contributing to these outcomes.
Research found girls with low fundamental movement skills exhibit higher body fatness compared to boys, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies to enhance motor proficiency in girls. The study aims to understand the relationship between motor skills and obesity, suggesting that developmental delays may be a contributing factor.
Research reveals that children begin using olfactory information to help evaluate emotionally-expressive faces at around five years of age. The findings advance understanding of how children integrate different types of sensory information to direct their social behavior.
Researchers analyzed data from 73 studies to find that children of authoritative parents exhibited better outcomes in interacting with the world, including healthier food choices and safer decision-making. They also provided valuable opinions on family consumption decisions.
A study published in Psychological Science found that allowing children to gesture naturally increased the number of creative ideas they came up with. The researchers also discovered that instructing children to gesture specifically boosted creativity even further.
A national NIH initiative will use exercise to identify molecular changes that improve and preserve health in children. Researchers will analyze blood samples from over 360 children before, during, and after exercise.
Researchers found that both Hispanic and white infants looked longer at African-American faces than their own ethnicity, suggesting a level of ethnic awareness. The study advances understanding of social cognition and development, highlighting the importance of studying infant attention to faces.
A new study identifies four culturally sensitive mental health screening tools that can be used by pediatricians to screen Latino children. The tools assess emotional and behavioral problems and are available in Spanish, with one including pictorial cues. The researchers hope that these tools will increase primary care pediatricians' c...
Professor Adele Jones's EU-funded project None-in-Three won a major national award for public engagement. The project aims to prevent domestic violence in Latin America and the Caribbean, with initiatives including an interactive role-playing game for school children.
The UA Steele Children's Research Center is studying autoimmune disease triggers with a $1.73 million NIH grant, focusing on dendritic cells and immune tolerance. The research aims to identify new targets for therapeutic approaches to restore tolerance in patients with autoimmunity.
A new study found that low-income Latino children who attended either public school prekindergarten or center-based care with child care subsidies at age 4 did well through the end of third grade. Public school prekindergarten appeared to improve academic outcomes for third-grade Latino children, especially English language learners.
The federal report emphasizes building children's self-regulation skills, which enable them to manage thoughts and feelings, control impulses, and problem-solve. This skill development is crucial for academic achievement, physical health, and socioeconomic success.
A new study found that intensive arts programs lower stress levels of economically disadvantaged preschoolers through reduced cortisol levels. The study demonstrated the positive effects of arts programming on children's physiological functioning.
A new theory of infant language learning suggests that visual experience plays a key role in early word acquisition, with common objects emerging as first words. The study's findings have implications for the treatment of children with language deficits and autism.
New research found that preschoolers (4-5 years old) use their past experience with language to infer what speakers are going to say, just like adults. They can incorporate their learned expectations into ambiguous speech descriptions, adapting to noisy conditions.
A study analyzing brain region connectivity found that people with more flexible brain states perform better on executive-function tasks. The researchers discovered five general brain patterns, with those in the most flexible states excelling in high-level cognition.
A debilitating neurological disease in children has been linked to mutations in the DENND5A gene, which regulates neuronal development through control of protein movement within neuronal cells. The study found that recessive loss-of-function mutations in DENND5A cause severe mental and physical disabilities.
A study of English schoolchildren found that the London 2012 Olympics inspired many to try new sports and activities, but levels of physical fitness worsened. Despite positive associations with increased activity and lower BMI among some participants, overall cardiorespiratory fitness declined significantly after the event.
Research suggests that pre-teens whose dads adjust well to parenthood and feel confident about their new role may be less likely to have behavioral problems. Fathers' emotional response and confidence in their new role are most strongly associated with lower odds of behavioral issues.
A recent survey found that men generally lack awareness of risk factors contributing to male infertility, with only about 50% identifying potential dangers. This lack of knowledge can lead to devastating psychological impact and stress on relationships, emphasizing the need for public education to promote reproductive health among men.
A study by Duke University found that North Carolina's Smart Start and More at Four programs had long-lasting positive effects on children's educational outcomes. The programs improved test scores, reduced grade retention, and decreased the odds of special education placements through fifth grade.
Researchers found that parental characteristics were equally important in supporting child cognition in the US and UK. However, they identified areas where policies can make a difference, such as child allowances and National Health Service in Great Britain.
A new study by NYU researchers found that charter schools enroll a larger share of girls than traditional public schools, with the gap peaking at 3.1 percentage points in high school. Boys are also more likely to exit charter schools than girls, but this difference is not enough to fully explain the gender gap.
A new study from the University of Washington provides insight into how children perceive their social identities in middle childhood. Children aged 7-12 rate gender as more important than race, with their perceptions influenced by personal and societal factors.
Researchers will investigate how in-womb exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals affects normal growth and development. The seven-year study will explore the health impacts of early environmental exposures on children's metabolism, thyroid hormones, and brain development.
A new study published in Pediatrics found that children who skip breakfast and have irregular sleep patterns are more likely to become overweight or obese. The research, based on data from over 19,000 UK children, highlights the importance of early life factors such as smoking in pregnancy and disrupted routines in predicting weight gain.
A new study by King's College London found that bullied children are nearly twice as likely to be overweight at age 18 compared to non-bullied peers. Chronic bullying in school was associated with a higher BMI and waist-hip ratio, independent of environmental risk factors.
A new study found that small calcium deposits in fetal membranes may cause preterm births, which could be prevented through dietary changes. Researchers identified a link between calciprotein particles and the development of osteoblasts in fetal membrane tissue.
A study found that up to 40% of consumers with food allergy concerns buy products with 'may contain' or 'manufactured on shared equipment' labels despite the risk. Food allergy affects approximately 8% of children and 2% of adults, with nearly 40% of children experiencing life-threatening reactions.
A team of researchers from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has completed a detailed map of the genomic landscape for core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML), revealing differences in mutations that contribute to its diversity.
A recent study found that children of parents with serious mental illness are more likely to live with a single mother or away from both parents, and experience higher rates of family dissolution. Schizophrenia had the most significant impact on family living arrangements.
A new study published in Psychological Science reveals that school principals' personal values influence the school atmosphere and ultimately shape students' values over time. The researchers found a consistent pattern for three out of four value categories, with one exception that may be attributed to unstudied mechanisms.
A new screening strategy could prevent approximately 600 heart attacks in people under the age of 40 if implemented nationwide. The strategy identifies children with familial hypercholesterolaemia, a genetic disorder characterized by high cholesterol levels and increased risk of early heart disease.
Researchers found altered brain activation patterns in pedophiles with and without a history of child sex offenses, suggesting non-offending pedophiles employ self-control mechanisms. Interventions targeting inhibitory control may help prevent child sex offenses.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting digital media to one hour a day for children aged 2-5, while avoiding it in children under 18 months. Parents should also engage with their children during use, using devices as tools to support family connection and promote healthy habits.
Researchers found that 30% of summer camps use outdated 'no nit' policies, excluding campers with lice eggs despite being ineffective. Most camp staff lack training in recognizing or treating lice, leading to a challenging treatment process for kids with live lice.
Researchers found that states with higher unrestrained child rates and rural roads had higher mortality rates. A 10% improvement in child restraint use nationally could prevent over 1,500 child deaths over five years.
A study of over 64,000 children aged 6-17 found a dose-dependent relationship between digital media exposure and decreased homework completion rates. Children who spent more time on digital devices had lower odds of finishing their homework, with those using devices for 4-6 hours per day having 49% lower odds.
A study by Children's Hospital Los Angeles reveals Rac1 is crucial for proper lung development. The protein regulates the Wnt signaling pathway, essential for lung branching morphogenesis. Inhibition of Rac1 disrupts lung formation and leads to cell death in mouse lungs.
Early results from the BabySeq Project suggest some utility in genetically sequencing newborn infants and offer new insights into parental attitudes toward the procedure and results. The study identified potentially harmful variants in two healthy infants sequenced without a family history of genetic disease.
A new study identified sources of exposure and assessed outcomes for children with severe lead poisoning. Major risk factors included eating paint, spending time outside the US, and having developmental delays or sickle-cell disease.
Experiencing prejudice in childhood can have long-term consequences, including depression and poor academic performance. New research highlights the origins and development of equity and justice in developmental science.
Researchers have discovered that infant nose cells possess remarkably similar RNS patterns to those found in the lungs, enabling non-invasive diagnostic methods and potential therapeutics for pediatric lung diseases. This breakthrough could improve diagnosis and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other infant lung disea...
Researchers will study cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung regeneration, targeting AT2 cells with gene editing techniques to correct disease-causing mutations and promote repair.
Research on Asian American children and youth highlights key aspects of diversity within the group, including culture, language, socioeconomic status, and immigration experiences. Studies reveal variations in poverty rates, bullying rates, and academic outcomes among subgroups, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive measurement.
A new study by Tufts University researchers found that children and teens with autism spectrum disorder are more likely to be obese and stay obese during adolescence. The study analyzed data from the National Survey of Children's Health and found a higher prevalence of obesity in children with ASD, which remained steady across age groups.
Children who experienced parental absence before age 7 were more than twice as likely to start smoking and 46% more likely to drink alcohol by age 11. The findings held true even after accounting for influential factors such as education and birthweight.
By 2025, up to 12 million children may develop impaired glucose tolerance, while 4 million will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The study forecasts a sharp increase in obesity-related conditions among children, sparking calls for governments to reduce childhood obesity.
A newly released Pitt study finds that nurturing caregiving in early childhood institutions improves physical, cognitive, and social development. Infants and toddlers with responsive caregivers exhibit fewer aggressive behaviors and externalizing problems after transitioning to family care.
A new study suggests that preschoolers are forming their body images, both positively and negatively, despite parental unawareness. Researchers found that most parents believe their children are too young to have body-image concerns, but 40% of parents described their child exhibiting at least one body-related behavior.
As children get older, their moral evaluations of lies and truths become more nuanced, taking into account the consequences of actions. Younger children tend to view truth and lies as binary, while older kids consider the intentions behind words.
Researchers have discovered a direct association between strain OC43 of the human coronavirus and neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and encephalitis. This breakthrough paves the way for targeted therapies that can address specific patient conditions.
A study published by Nationwide Children's Hospital found that treadmill hand burns are the second most common hand injury after stovetop burns, requiring greater and longer care. Children under 5 years old are most prone to these injuries due to curiosity and lack of understanding about potential dangers.
A new study documents abnormal brain development in offspring of a non-human primate infected with Zika virus during pregnancy. The findings provide a model for testing therapeutic interventions to prevent fetal brain injury caused by the virus.