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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Gaylord et al. (2020) conducted an extensive analysis of the neurodevelopmental disabilities linked to early-life exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the United States between 2001 and 2016. The study also examined the economic costs of these exposures, emphasizing the significance of effective public health interventions. Background Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are …
This post reviews the findings of Widen et al. (2019), who examined how maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) affect cognitive outcomes in children. The study focused on a diverse, low-income, multiethnic cohort to explore potential sex-specific differences in child neurodevelopment linked to maternal obesity. …
McDermott et al. (2019) conducted a longitudinal study examining how childhood socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with structural brain development. By analyzing over 1,200 MRI scans from youth aged 5 to 25 years, the researchers explored connections between SES and the anatomy of the brain, offering important insights into cognitive …
In their influential working paper, Juhn, Rubinstein, and Zuppann (2015) analyzed how family size affects the development of cognitive and non-cognitive skills. Their research used detailed mother-child data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, offering new insights into the quantity-quality trade-off in parental investment and its implications for …
