Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 1, 2026

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
08:50

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

4.3K

Neurodevelopment: The Impact of Nutrition and Inflammation During Infancy in Low-Resource Settings

Nancy F Krebs1, Betsy Lozoff2,3, Michael K Georgieff4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; nancy.krebs@ucdenver.edu.

Pediatrics
|June 1, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Early brain development in infants (birth to 24 months) is crucial and influenced by nutrition and inflammation. Understanding these factors is key for optimal neurodevelopment during this vulnerable period.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Infancy and early childhood (birth to 24 months) are critical periods for neurodevelopment, characterized by rapid brain growth and high nutritional needs.
  • The developing brain is vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies, environmental exposures, and inflammation, all of which can impact neurodevelopment.
  • Maternal exposures during gestation also influence the newborn brain's development and future neurodevelopmental trajectory.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the interactions between nutritional requirements and brain development in early life.
  • To examine nutritional vulnerabilities related to maternal nutritional status and function.
  • To explore the impact of environmental exposures and inflammation on nutrient homeostasis and neurodevelopment in infants and young children.

Main Methods:

  • This article is a review and overview of existing scientific literature.
  • It synthesizes evidence on nutrition, inflammation, environmental factors, and neurodevelopment in early childhood.
  • Focuses on the period from birth through 24 months of age.

Main Results:

  • Nutritional requirements are high and essential for rapid brain development in early life.
  • Maternal nutrition and exposures during pregnancy significantly impact infant neurodevelopment.
  • The interplay between nutrition, inflammation, and environmental factors presents a complex challenge for optimal neurodevelopment.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing nutrition and mitigating inflammation and harmful exposures are critical for supporting healthy neurodevelopment in infancy and early childhood.
  • Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence base linking nutrition and inflammation to neurodevelopment in this specific age group.
  • Addressing nutritional vulnerabilities and environmental influences is paramount for long-term cognitive and neurological health outcomes.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

1.2K
Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding09:12

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding

Published on: November 14, 2018

8.3K

Related Concept Videos

Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
1.0K
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy01:30

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
976
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition01:27

Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
1.2K
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
88.7K
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
22.6K
Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
616