How does growing up in poverty affect brain development? Research on the neuroscience of socioeconomic disadvantage and evidence-based interventions that can close the cognitive gap.
Mediterranean Diet and Brain Health: Can Food Make You Smarter?
The Mediterranean diet has been linked to lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. But an expanding body of research suggests its benefits extend above the neck as well. Can what you eat actually make your brain work better? Key Takeaway: The Mediterranean diet — rich in fish, olive …
Air Pollution and Your Brain: The Cognitive Costs You Don’t See
We worry about air pollution’s effects on our lungs and hearts. But a growing body of research reveals an even more alarming target: the brain. From children’s developing intelligence to older adults’ cognitive decline, air quality affects cognition in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Key Takeaway: Chronic exposure to …
Does Cannabis Lower Your IQ? What the Latest Research Shows
As cannabis legalization spreads across the United States and globally, a question with significant public health implications has moved from academic journals to everyday conversation: does cannabis use make you less intelligent? The answer emerging from two decades of research is more nuanced than either side of the legalization debate …
Gender Differences in Early Education Impacts on Cognitive Outcomes
This study, published by Burchinal et al. (2024), examines the long-term effects of early childhood education (ECE) interventions on cognitive outcomes, with a focus on how impacts vary by gender. Using data from the Carolina Abecedarian Project, the researchers explore treatment effects from infancy through middle adulthood, highlighting key differences …
Shaping Hierarchical Cognitive Abilities
Recent research by Jiang et al. (2024) sheds light on the distinct genetic and environmental influences shaping hierarchical cognitive abilities in adults. By categorizing cognitive functions into two levels—basic processes and higher-order functions—this study provides valuable insights into how these abilities develop and differ in their origins. Background Human cognition …
Hidden Harm: Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and Its Impact on Young Brains
Ghassabian et al. (2023) provide a detailed analysis of the relationship between prenatal exposure to phthalates and its potential effects on brain development and cognitive outcomes in children. Using data from the Generation R study, the research explores how exposure during pregnancy may influence brain volume and IQ scores in …
Assessing Air Pollution’s Impact on Health and Cognitive Function
Landrigan et al. (2022) present a detailed strategy for evaluating how air pollution affects health and cognitive function at the community level. Their study focuses on Massachusetts, revealing significant health outcomes and IQ loss even at air pollution levels below current EPA standards. The findings emphasize the need for stricter …
Responsive Caregiving and Learning Opportunities: Impact on Human Capital
The study by Trude et al. (2021) examines how responsive caregiving and learning opportunities during early childhood influence the relationship between early adversities and adolescent human capital. Conducted in Brazil and South Africa, this research highlights the protective role of nurturing environments in fostering cognitive and psychosocial development despite early …
The Impact of Maternal Vitamin D Levels on Neurocognitive Development
Melough et al. (2021) investigated the role of maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy on the neurocognitive development of children aged 4–6 years. Using data from the CANDLE cohort, the study provides evidence linking higher maternal plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels with improved IQ outcomes in children, highlighting the importance …