New DNA test could revolutionize prenatal screening - CBS News

New DNA test could revolutionize prenatal screening - CBS News: A report in the New England Journal of Medicine Wednesday could revolutionize prenatal screening for Down Syndrome and other disorders.

When 29-year-old Jennifer Fontaine was pregnant last year, a standard blood screen suggested her baby had a severe genetic defect.

Acetaminophen use in pregnancy studied for ADHD risk - Health - CBC News

Acetaminophen use in pregnancy studied for ADHD risk - Health - CBC News: Taking acetaminophen during pregnancy is linked to a slightly higher risk of children being diagnosed with ADHD and behaviour problems, but it is still the pain reliever of choice when expecting, doctors say.

Acetaminophen, found in Tylenol and some cold medications, is the most commonly used medication for pain and fever during pregnancy. While it has no known links to birth defects, studies in humans and animals suggest it could affect hormones that are key to brain development.

11 Toxic Chemicals Affecting Brain Development In Children - Forbes

11 Toxic Chemicals Affecting Brain Development In Children - Forbes: The list of chemicals that can affect brain development in children has grown. In a study out today in The Lancet Neurology, researchers outline new chemicals that may be contributing to what they dub the “global, silent pandemic of neurodevelopmental toxicity.” In 2006, the team had released a list of five neurotoxins that may contribute to everything from cognitive deficits to attention problems. Now that list is expanded, based on new research that has since accumulated on chemicals linked to developmental disorders in children. Today, they outline six more.









(Note: Manganese is important for health.  It becomes toxic, like many things, only when it is consumed in excess)

Do Pets Help In Child Development? - Oneindia Boldsky

Do Pets Help In Child Development? - Oneindia Boldsky: Children love being in the company of pets. The innocence that they both share will complement each other for a better friendship. Having a pet is one of the best ideas to keep your kids engaged and active.

How will it be if you can develop the social skills of your kids by offering the friendship of a four legged friend? Having pets will help children improve their emotional, cognitive, social and behavioural development.

First biomarker could help boys at risk of major depression | Reuters

First biomarker could help boys at risk of major depression | Reuters: In a study in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS) journal, the team found that teenage boys who have a combination of depressive symptoms and raised levels of the stress hormone cortisol are up to 14 times more likely to develop major depression than those who show neither trait.

Warning sign for depression in teen boys found - The Times of India

Warning sign for depression in teen boys found - The Times of India: The researchers now hope that having an easily measurable biomarker - in this case, elevated cortisol plus depressive symptoms - will enable primary care services to identify boys at high risk and consider new public mental health strategies for them in the community. Cambridge University professor Ian Goodyer, who led the study, said depression is a terrible illness that will affect as many as 10 million people in the UK at some point in their lives.

Pornography addiction doesn't exist, research says, but that's not the whole story | Deseret News

Pornography addiction doesn't exist, research says, but that's not the whole story | Deseret News: Researchers, men, women and children have all shown pornography's addicting effects and the destruction it causes to lives and relationships.

A study by Cambridge University found that brain activities seen in alcoholics and drug abusers were similar to those found in compulsive pornography users, The Independent reported.

Sibling relationships tied to children’s vocabulary skills | Lifestyle | GMA News Online

Sibling relationships tied to children’s vocabulary skills | Lifestyle | GMA News Online: In large families, young kids can't always get a lot of individual attention from parents—but healthy interactions with an older sibling might help compensate for that, a new study suggests.

How older children interact with their siblings is tied to the younger children's development, Canadian researchers found.

"The idea is that here is this effect of being in a large family where you don't get that many resources, but if you get an older sibling that's really attuned to your needs that would be a modifying effect," Jennifer Jenkins told Reuters Health.

Rise in child injuries may be linked to distracted parenting | WJLA.com

Rise in child injuries may be linked to distracted parenting | WJLA.com: For many parents, it’s a technological tug-of-war a juggling act between their devices and their kids.

"It's a struggle. It's constantly dinging and going off, and you want to respond," says mother Jodi Whiteman.

Last July, she was caught between a stack of work emails on her device and her six-year-old daughter Lindsey, who wanted to play on the monkey bars in their backyard:

"I said, 'no, no, no, just one more minute,' and she kept saying, 'but I want to go -- c'mon mom, c'mon mom.' And I said, 'you know what, just go."

Obesity in Childhood Linked to Poor Parenting?

Obesity in Childhood Linked to Poor Parenting?: A study at the University of Illinois concluded that there may be a link between poor parenting and high childhood obesity risks. Researchers found what they call “insecure parents” as possibly being one of the main causes in increasing a child’s desire to consume junk food.

Study finds obesity during pregnancy is risk factor for long-term cardiovascular morbidity

Study finds obesity during pregnancy is risk factor for long-term cardiovascular morbidity: In a study to be presented on Feb. 7 at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in New Orleans, researchers will report that obesity during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for long-term cardiovascular morbidity, and these complications tend to occur at a younger age. Researchers concluded that obese pregnant patients might benefit from cardiovascular risk screening that could lead to early detection and secondary prevention of cardiovascular morbidity.

Breastfeeding protects children against obesity

Health News - Breastfeeding protects children against obesity: The gut flora of children who are wholly or partly breastfed helps protect them against developing obesity, reveals research at the Sahlgrenska Academy.

Doctoral student Josefine Roswall and her research colleagues from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg are trying to identify early risk factors for obesity and to study in detail the role of diet in the development of preschool obesity.

Diabetes and Pregnancy are a Dangerous Mix | Diabetes Testing is Critical for Mothers | LiveScience

Diabetes and Pregnancy are a Dangerous Mix | Diabetes Testing is Critical for Mothers | LiveScience: Recently, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force published recommendations in the Annals of Internal Medicine — a widely-respected, peer-reviewed journal — that strongly advise all pregnant women be screened for gestational diabetes, a test which many physicians (including those at the North Shore-LIJ Health System) routinely perform.

Reading crucial to child’s development | Lincoln Times-News

Reading crucial to child’s development | Lincoln Times-News: Fewer than half of young children in the United States are read to daily. In most states, minority and low-income children are less likely to be read to every day. As a result, many children from low-income families enter kindergarten with a listening vocabulary of 3,000 words while many children of middle/upper income families enter with a listening vocabulary of 20,000 words.