Policy implications of new scientific knowledge

Recent research findings have augmented the nutrition variable to a higher category of importance than previously appreciated. Inadequate nutrition can impair cognitive development and is associated with educational failure among impoverished children. This suggests that poor nutrition interferes with the formation of human capital, the cornerstone of a nation's social and economic development. Even temporary food shortages can produce adverse outcomes in developed as well as developing countries. The long-held concept of a critical period of brain development has been modified in light of the new understanding that developmental and morphological plasticity are far greater than previously recognized. This knowledge does not mean that there are no lasting adverse outcomes, but that from a policy perspective, intervention and rehabilitation can play crucial roles. This article highlights the relevance of this evidence to social and health programs and policies.