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Neighborhood conditions associated with children’s cognitive function

November 4, 2020 U.S. National Institutes of Health

A study published today in JAMA Network Open shows that children from poorer neighborhoods perform less well on a range of cognitive functions, such as verbal ability, reading skills, memory, and attention, and have smaller brain volumes in key cognitive regions compared to those from wealthier neighborhoods.

While multiple studies have shown that household socioeconomic status affects a child’s cognitive development, less is known about the effect of the broader neighborhood context. By revealing a role that the neighborhood environment may play in shaping brain development,  research findings can inform interventions aimed at improving outcomes for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The study is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and nine other institutes, centers, and offices that are part of the National Institutes of Health.

The researchers analyzed data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study(link is external), which focuses on how environmental and biological factors influence adolescent development. The team looked at data from brain imaging and neurocognitive testing from 11,875 9- and 10-year-old children (48% female) from 21 sites within the United States, largely reflecting urban and suburban areas.

The researchers found that youth living in high poverty neighborhoods had lower volumes of certain brain regions, partially explaining the possible relationship between high neighborhood poverty and lower scores on cognitive tests. The affected areas of the brain were in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, areas known to be involved in language and memory. The differences in volume were significant even after the researchers adjusted for the effects of household income. For every unit increase in neighborhood poverty, children scored 3.22 points lower on cognitive testing, even when accounting for household income.

While other studies have found poorer school and cognitive performance among children raised in impoverished environments, this study shines a light on the specific importance of the neighborhood context in a child’s development, regardless of that child’s household income. The study’s findings suggest that policies that address uneven distribution of resources among neighborhoods may help lessen imbalances in cognitive performance. Additional research is needed to identify which neighborhood characteristics, such as school funding or environmental pollution, may influence children’s brain and cognitive development.

The ABCD Study, the largest of its kind in the United States, is tracking nearly 12,000 youth as they grow into young adults. Investigators regularly measure participants’ brain structure and activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, and collect psychological, environmental, and cognitive information, as well as biological samples. The goal of the study is to define standards for normal brain and cognitive development and to identify factors that can enhance or disrupt a young person’s life trajectory.

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study and ABCD Study are registered trademarks and service marks, respectfully, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Article:

Taylor, RL, Cooper, SR, Jackson, JJ, Barch, DM. Assessment of Neighborhood Poverty, Cognitive Function, and Prefrontal and Hippocampal Volumes in Children(link is external). INSERT HYPERLINK. JAMA Network Open. November 3, 2020.

Who:

Gaya Dowling, Ph.D., Director, Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, National Institute on Drug Abuse, is available for comment.

To learn more, go to: Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study(link is external).
The material in this press release comes from the originating research organization. Content may be edited for style and length. Have a question? Let us know.

Nicole Brossoie

Chief, Office of Public Affairs

NJ Department of Children & Families

609-888-7915

Facebook: @NewJerseyDCF

Instagram: @NewJerseyDCF

Twitter: @NJDCF

American Diabetes Month

The following pieces are focused on education and awareness around diabetes:

Alpha Phi Omega leads a critical discussion on diabetes

November 9, 2020

With any disease or condition, awareness and education are crucial. That is why on Nov. 5, Ramapo students Jesse Valliere and Monika Weglarz from Alpha Phi Omega paired with registered nurse Ansara Persad from New Jersey Mobile Healthcare Training to host an informative presentation on diabetes, the seventh leading cause of deaths in the U.S.

Nurse Persad began by defining diabetes as “a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar levels, which result from defects in insulin secretion, action, or both.” If a person lacks the proper levels of active insulin, their cells cannot metabolize glucose and obtain enough energy to function.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are both serious conditions that require lifelong management. Type 1 patients do not produce insulin, while type 2 patients produce amounts that do not function effectively. Treatment for type 1 centers on daily insulin injections, while treatment for type 2 may include diet and exercise because type 2 generally occurs later on in a patient’s life and is associated with obesity.

A modern way of managing type 1 diabetes involves pairing an insulin pump with an app that allows patients to see their blood sugar readings with their phones.

Technological advances are convenient, but it is still important to be able to manually identify signs of uncontrolled diabetes or a diabetic emergency. The three most common symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes are frequent urination, frequent drinking and excessive eating, also known as polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia, respectively.

A diabetic emergency can occur when the body begins to break down fat cells due to a lack of available glucose, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis. Symptoms of DKA include weakness and nausea. A person experiencing DKA may seem drunk due to sweet-smelling breath, poor memory, and poor balance. Unless it’s rapidly identified and treated, DKA can lead to coma and death.

Although DKA is more common with type 1, it can occur in a patient with either type if they forget to eat after injecting insulin. “If they are alert enough to swallow or to talk, we give them glucose,” Persad explained in regards to treatment. Fruit juice and dextrose are two common sugar-rich substances used to quickly raise a person’s blood sugar.

A hyperglycemic crisis can occur when blood glucose levels are above the normal range of 80-120 mg/dL. This type of diabetic coma is caused by taking insufficient insulin, overeating, or being under the influence of alcohol, overexertion, or an illness. Treatment can take hours in a hospital setting. This crisis can be common at Thanksgiving if a diabetic patient forgets to adjust their insulin levels according to how much they will be eating.

Although it can happen with either kind, patients with type 2 diabetes are more prone to experiencing a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma. Physical signs and symptoms include poor skin turgor, abdominal pain and lethargy. A lack of sweet-smelling breath is a key identifier to prevent it from being confused with DKA. It’s often treated with IV fluid in a hospital setting.

Other problems associated with diabetes include seizures and loss of airway management. It’s important for medical personnel to be aware of all issues potentially experienced by a diabetic patient and their respective treatments.

A majority of the presentation was geared toward the attendees from the nursing program. Persad covered the steps of assessing a patient to determine if they were experiencing a condition that mimics the symptoms of a diabetic episode, such as a stroke or head trauma. Checking a patient’s breathing and asking about their medical history are key.

A quick way to determine between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia is by checking if the patient’s skin is dry and warm or moist and pale. A prominent sign of a hyperglycemic crisis is a rapid, weak pulse.

Overall, Persad gave an informative presentation with a powerpoint and selection of diagrams that were both eye-catching and educational. All that were in attendance, even those that are not nursing students or diabetic, are more prepared to identify a health crisis and ensure a person at risk receives the proper medical care.

For questions:

dbongiov@ramapo.edu

Diabetes self-management education and support program planned

November 5, 2020

Those who are affected by diabetes or other health-related conditions can join a free six-week diabetes self-management education and support program provided by the Jewish Family Service Village by the Shore and The Rothenberg Center for Family Life.

Every Wednesday Nov. 4 through Dec. 16, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., participants will take part in a virtual zoom workshop to gain knowledge, skills and confidence to lead a healthier life. Attendees will learn how to manage symptoms, communicate effectively with healthcare providers, improve eating, exercise habits and more. A hallmark of the program is that participants learn from one another.

The evidence-based workshop was developed by the Stanford University Patient Education Research Center and licensed by the state of New Jersey. Participants will receive a book, "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions," to help manage diabetes within the context of their lifestyle.

For more information or to register for the program, contact Maggie Weaver, RN, at 609-350-8937 or mweaver@jfsatlantic.org.

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