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Ghanaian babies experience rich multilingual input from an early age

Africa is a multilingual continent and many adults speak several languages fluently. An empirical study by a research team led by the Potsdam psycholinguists Prof. Dr. Natalie Boll-Avetisyan and Paul O. Omane now shows that the roots of this multilingualism can be found in infancy: In Ghana, most babies grow up multilingually, with most of them coming into contact with two to six languages and just as many regular speakers of each language.

2 Mar 2025

Portion sizes vary worldwide, but science isn’t the reason—new study explains why

Researchers analyzed 96 national dietary guidelines and found that different methods used to determine portion sizes lead to minimal variation, with regional factors like cost and culture having a greater impact than methodology.

2 Mar 2025

Race-neutral equation improves asthma diagnosis for Black children

Despite ongoing progress, structural racism and health disparities continue to shape healthcare practices in ways healthcare providers may not even realize.

28 Feb 2025

Study demonstrates successful gene therapy for maple syrup urine disease

A study led by UMass Chan researchers demonstrated that a gene therapy to correct a mutation that causes maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) prevented newborn death, normalized growth, restored coordinated expression of the affected genes and stabilized biomarkers in a calf as well as in mice.

28 Feb 2025

Study identifies barriers to sustaining SNAP-Ed programs in schools

New research reveals significant barriers to sustaining policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes in schools through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed)-funded partnerships.

28 Feb 2025

Researchers discover key blood molecules impacting child development

McMaster University researchers have identified small molecules in the blood that may impact early childhood development, showing how dietary exposures, early life experiences, and gut health can influence a child's growth and cognitive milestones.

28 Feb 2025

New discovery sheds light on energy crisis in children with TANGO2 deficiency

Researchers studying a protein linked to a rare, severe disease have made a discovery that sheds light on how cells meet their energy needs during a severe metabolic crisis.

28 Feb 2025

Artificial sweeteners may reduce metformin’s effectiveness in weight and glucose control

Drinking artificially sweetened beverages may reduce metformin’s effectiveness in young patients with obesity and prediabetes, but a larger study is needed to confirm these findings.

27 Feb 2025

Young children rapidly adapt to new social norms during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major and sudden effect on all aspects of life, requiring children and their families to rapidly change their habits and adopt new behaviors to stay healthy.

27 Feb 2025

Preschoolers with better fitness have sharper brains, study finds

A study in Pediatric Research found that preschoolers with higher physical fitness levels perform significantly better in memory, attention, and problem-solving tasks, emphasizing the role of movement in early cognitive development.

26 Feb 2025

Early life growth shapes adult height but has little effect on puberty timing, study finds

Early life growth is strongly associated with pubertal growth and adult height, but it does not significantly influence the timing of puberty, highlighting the complex interplay of genetics and early development.

26 Feb 2025

Drug may offer new hope for preventing migraines in kids and teens

For children and teens living with migraine, there may be a new preventive treatment, according to a preliminary study released today, February 26, 2025, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5–9, 2025, in San Diego and online.

26 Feb 2025

Can you trust TikTok for nutrition advice? Study exposes #WhatIEatinaDay

TikTok prioritizes engagement over accuracy, exposing young users to misleading nutrition content. Researchers urge stricter content moderation to curb misinformation.

26 Feb 2025

PFAS exposure via drinking water contamination may play a role in childhood cancer risk

A study led by the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health at the University of California, Irvine has revealed possible links between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water and an increased risk of certain childhood cancers.

26 Feb 2025

New mathematical model assesses drug exposure for breastfed infants

A new mathematical model developed at the University of Waterloo can determine a baby's overall drug exposure when their mother is taking medication.

26 Feb 2025

Leisure screen time linked to higher psychological distress in teens

Researchers investigate whether different types and contexts of sedentary behavior lead to psychological distress later on in adolescence.

26 Feb 2025

Air lead concentrations found to affect infant mortality

Concentrations of lead in the air remain substantial in developed and developing countries, largely the result of industrial emissions.

25 Feb 2025

Cooling treatment shows no benefits for preterm infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Lowering the body temperature of preterm infants (born at 33 to 35 weeks of pregnancy) with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)-a type of brain damage caused by oxygen loss-offers no benefits over standard care, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

25 Feb 2025

Advanced MRI uncovers lung abnormalities in children and teens with long COVID

An advanced type of MRI uncovers significant lung abnormalities in children and adolescents with long COVID, according to a new study published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America .

25 Feb 2025

Early pregnancy nutrition impacts child's motor development at age 5-6

A healthy diet in early pregnancy supports the child's motor development at the age of 5-6 years. Higher maternal body fat mass, on the other hand, has an adverse effect on the child's motor development.

25 Feb 2025