Refund app selfcontrol8/30/2023 ![]() We discovered that reading for pleasure in early childhood was linked with better scores on comprehensive cognition assessments and better educational attainment in young adolescence. It also included data on their cognitive, mental health and brain health.Ībout half of the group of adolescents starting reading early in childhood, whereas the other, approximately half, had never read in early childhood, or had begun reading late on. The dataset contained measures of young adolescents ages nine to 13 and how many years they had spent reading for pleasure during their early childhood. We analysed the data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) project, a US national cohort study with more than 10,000 participants across different ethnicities and and varying socioeconomic status. Our observational study shows a dramatic and positive link between a fun and simple activity – reading for pleasure in early childhood – and better cognition, mental health and educational attainment in adolescence. So what measures can we put in place to counteract the negative effects of poverty which could be applicable globally? There has been much interest of late in levelling up. A lack of safe spaces and good facilities to play and exercise in, as well as limited access to computers and other educational support systems, could also play a role. These include poor nutrition and stress on the family caused by financial problems. There are many contributing factors which will interact. It also showed that children from low socioeconomic background families seem to have poorer stress coping mechanisms and feel less self-confident.īut what are the reasons for these effects of poverty on the brain and academic achievement? Ultimately, more research is needed to fully understand why poverty affects the brain in this way. They become more focused on the present with little space for future plans – and also tended to be more averse to taking risks. A report from the London School of Economics found that poverty seems to shift people’s focus towards meeting immediate needs and threats. Our socioeconomic status will even influence our decision-making. They also found it easier to subsequently develop cognitive skills. On average, they developed more changeable brains (plasticity) and better adaptation to their environment. Importantly, the results from one study found that when mothers with low socioeconomic status were given monthly cash gifts, their children’s brain health improved. Among children from higher income families, similar income increments are associated with smaller differences in surface area. ![]() Among children from lower income families, small differences in income are associated with relatively large differences in surface area. ![]() The association between wealth and cognition is greatest in the most economically disadvantaged families. And we know that these areas support the development of cognitive skills. Research has shown that the brain’s outer layer, called the cortex, has a larger surface are and is thicker in people with higher socioeconomic status than in poorer people.īeing wealthy has also been linked with having more grey matter (tissue in the outer layers of the brain) in the frontal and temporal regions (situated just behind the ears) of the brain. ![]() Higher family income in childhood tends to be associated with higher scores on assessments of language, working memory and the processing of social and emotional cues. But until sufficient measures are taken to reduce inequality and improve outcomes, our new study, published in Psychological Medicine, shows one low-cost activity that may at least counteract some of the negative effects of poverty on the brain: reading for pleasure. This shows just how important it is to give all children an equal chance in life. It is also associated with differences in brain structure, poorer cognition, behavioural problems and mental health symptoms. Studies have shown that early childhood poverty is a risk factor for lower educational attainment. It can also provide resilience in times of stress.īut, sadly, brain development can be hampered by poverty. Good brain health at this age is directly linked to better mental heath, cognition and educational attainment in adolescence and adulthood. Cambridge, July 6: Early childhood is a critical period for brain development, which is important for boosting cognition and mental wellbeing.
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