Poverty may inhibit mental growth and stability in children, according to a study by Washington University at St. Louis (WashU) Medical School published in the current issue of JAMA Network Open.
Researchers have found that growing up in household and neighborhood poverty may have a link to the development of white matter in the brain. That white matter is vital to the brain’s ability to process information.
“White matter integrity is very important in brain development,” said first author Zhaolong (Adrian) Li, a neuroimaging research technician in the Department of Psychiatry. “For example, weaknesses in white matter are linked to visuospatial and mental health challenges in children. If we can capture how socioeconomic status affects white matter early on in a child’s life, the hope is we can, one day, translate these findings to preventive measures.”
Long-Term Research
The WashU research is part of the longest on-going study of childhood brain development in the United States. The National Institutes of Health launched the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study in 2015.
The ABCD study is following about 12,000 children from ages 9 to 10 for 10 or more years.
Poverty and Obesity
A significant way poverty impacts a child’s development is in lower quality food options. As a result, obesity brought on by high fat and carbohydrates in cheaper foods may harm white matter development.
“Our finding that obesity and cognitive enrichment may be relevant mediators, if confirmed, would provide strong support for managing healthy weight and encouraging cognitively stimulating activities to support brain health in disadvantaged children,” said Tamara Hershey, PhD, professor of neuroscience, psychiatry and of radiology.
Embarrassment of Riches
The United States ranks first in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, 37.9 million Americans live in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That means almost 12 percent of the population lives on the wrong side of the tracks.
Internationally it is worse. About 24 percent of the planet’s population, about 1.9 billion people, live in poverty, according to World Vision. That number is expected to more than double by 2030.
Income and Wealth Inequality Rising
The gap between wealthy and middle and lower income groups is particularly acute in the U. S., according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
“Income and wealth inequality in the United States is substantially higher than in almost any other developed nation, and it is on the rise, sparking an intensifying national debate,” stated a CFR report last year.
A corresponding author of the study echoed that thought.
“Wealth and income inequality are accelerating in the U.S.,” said Scott Marek, PhD, assistant professor of radiology and of psychiatry. “We and others are starting to scratch the surface of how inequality may harm the developing brain and affect mental health outcomes. Our findings emphasize shifting away from the thinking that socioeconomics is a unitary construct. It’s not schools or parenting alone that matter for brain health. It’s likely the collection of many neighborhood and familial life factors.”
Read More:
- Caffeine May Impact Gut Health Unexpected Discovery Finds
- Regular Internet Use May Ward Off Dementia According to Study
- Amniotic Fluid Eye Drops Untested Warns FDA
Come back to what you love! Dollardig.com is the most reliable cash-back site on the web. Just sign up, click, shop, and get full cashback!
Max K. Erkiletian began writing for newspapers while still in high school. He went on to become an award-winning journalist and co-founder of the print magazine Free Bird. He has written for a wide range of regional and national publications as well as many on-line publications. That has afforded him the opportunity to interview a variety of prominent figures from former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank Paul Volker to Blues musicians Muddy Waters and B. B. King. Max lives in Springfield, MO with his wife Karen and their cat – Pudge. He spends as much time as possible with his kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Comments