Showing 20 articles starting at article 1
Categories: Infant and Preschool Learning, Vitamin
Published Genes influence whether infants prefer to look at faces or non-social objects



Whether infants at five months of age look mostly at faces or non-social objects such as cars or mobile phones is largely determined by genes. The findings suggest that there is a biological basis for how infants create their unique visual experiences and which things they learn most about.
Published New study on experience of adopted people as they become parents



A new piece of research looks at the challenges faced by adopted people when they become parents. The study investigated the lived experiences of adopted people in the UK as they become parents. Until now research in this area has been very limited and hasn't tended to included the experiences of adopted men as fathers.
Published Study reveals surprising link between malnutrition and rising antibiotic resistance



Researchers have uncovered startling connections between micronutrient deficiencies and the composition of gut microbiomes in early life that could help explain why resistance to antibiotics has been rising across the globe. The team investigated how deficiencies in crucial micronutrients such as vitamin A, B12, folate, iron, and zinc affected the community of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes that live in the digestive system. They discovered that these deficiencies led to significant shifts in the gut microbiome of mice -- most notably an alarming expansion of bacteria and fungi known to be opportunistic pathogens. Importantly, mice with micronutrient deficiencies also exhibited a higher enrichment of genes that have been linked to antibiotic resistance.
Published Vitamin B12: A key player in cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration



Researchers reveal that vitamin B12 significantly boosts the efficiency of cellular reprogramming, thus holding promise for regenerative medicine. Vitamin B12 supplementation shows potential in speeding up tissue repair in a model of ulcerative colitis -- an observation that points to potential new treatments for inflammatory diseases.
Published Clinical trial data suggests prenatal vitamin D reduces a child's risk of asthma



A review of 15 years' worth of data found that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy was linked to reduced rates of asthma and wheezing in children compared to standard prenatal multivitamin.
Published Reducing vitamin B5 slows breast cancer growth in mice



Researchers have discovered that breast cancer cells expressing a cancer-driving gene heavily rely on vitamin B5 to grow and survive.
Published When dads are feeling a bit depressed or anxious, how do kids fare?



A team of researchers has found that slightly higher, but mild anxious or depressive symptoms in fathers were associated with fewer behavioral difficulties in the first years of elementary school and better scores on a standardized IQ test in their children.
Published Stunting in infancy linked to differences in cognitive and brain function



New research shows that children who are too short for their age can suffer reduced cognitive ability from as early as six months old. Researchers compared the 'visual working memory' in children who had stunted growth with those having typical growth. They found that the visual working memory of infants with poor physical growth was disrupted, making them more easily distracted and setting the stage for poorer cognitive ability one year later.
Published Imprinted genes in the 'parenting hub' of the brain determine if mice are good parents



Whether a mouse is a good or bad parent can be traced back to imprinted genes in key neurons in the 'parenting hub' in the brain, according to a new study.
Published New study reveals similarities between chimpanzee and human language development



Scientists examining the evolutionary roots of language say they've discovered chimp vocal development is not far off from humans.
Published Fresh light shed on mystery of infant consciousness



There is evidence that some form of conscious experience is present by birth, and perhaps even in late pregnancy, an international team of researchers has found.
Published Grandparent childcare may not help the wellbeing of mums or reduce mother-child conflict, study suggests



Grandparent childcare for toddlers doesn’t have an impact on the wellbeing of their mothers, a new study suggests.
Published Origin of cultural learning: Babies imitate because they are imitated



A new study shows that babies learn to imitate others because they themselves are imitated by caregivers.
Published Eureka baby! Groundbreaking study uncovers origin of 'conscious awareness'



Fundamental questions of agency -- acting with purpose -- have perplexed some of the greatest minds in history including Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Now, human babies provide groundbreaking insight into the origins of agency. Since goal-directed action appears in the first months of human life, researchers used young infants as a test field to understand how spontaneous movement transforms into purposeful action. The 'birth' of agency can be quantified as a 'eureka-like,' pattern-changing phase transition within a dynamical system that spans the baby, the brain, and the environment.
Published Intellectual disability more common in families with substance use disorder



Children of a parent with alcohol or drug use disorder have a greater risk of intellectual disability, even if the problem only lies with the father, researchers report. According to the study, preventive measures should be directed at both parents.
Published Toddlers learn to reason logically before they learn to speak, study finds



Nineteen-month-old toddlers already use natural logical thinking, even before they learn to speak, to deal with uncertainties about the world. This natural logic contributes to their learning process, both in terms of language and in other fields of knowledge, according to a new study.
Published First-in-class targeted microRNA therapy slows cancer tumor growth



A new cancer therapy attacks tumors by tricking cancer cells into absorbing a snippet of RNA that naturally blocks cell division.
Published Adding complex component of milk to infant formula confers long-term cognitive benefits for bottle-fed babies



New research has shown how a complex component of milk that can be added to infant formula has been shown to confer long-term cognitive benefits, including measures of intelligence and executive function in children.
Published Antioxidants stimulate blood flow in tumors



Vitamin C and other antioxidants stimulate the formation of new blood vessels in lung cancer tumors, a new study shows. The discovery corroborates the idea that dietary supplements containing antioxidants can accelerate tumor growth and metastasis.
Published Why parental pressures are taking the fun out of children's play



Modern day parenting pressures and expectations are leading to the death knell for children enjoying spontaneous play, according to a new study.