Prosperity depends on public commitment to child health, conference hears (Canada)

Canada’s future prosperity could be at stake if policies related to young children fail to catch up to the scientific evidence.

That was a key takeaway from a special symposium held in Toronto last week that brought together world experts in the biology of child and brain development with those who specialize in the health and success of entire societies.

The meeting helped to underscore how far molecular geneticists have come in revealing precisely how environmental influences, from toxic chemicals to economic stress, can affect the activity level of a young child’s DNA at precisely the moment when crucial genes related to brain development are in play. These epigenetic influences can leave a lasting mark throughout life, with the result that affected children are less likely to be able to meet the cognitive demands of school. The data suggest they also face reduced opportunities for a healthy and productive adulthood.

“If you wait for children to fail, you’ve lost so much capacity by that point that it’s hard to catch up,” said Neal Halfon, director of UCLA’s Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities.

Dr. Halfon was among those who lauded the work of University of British Columbia epidemiologist Clyde Hertzman, who died suddenly last year. Dr. Hertzman was known for pioneering research that correlated social inequality across various B.C. communities with the cognitive performance of children in those communities and their comparative readiness for school. The symposium, convened by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), was held as a tribute to his ongoing influence in the field.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/science/brain/prosperity-depends-on-public-commitment-to-child-health-conference-hears/article16771950/