It has long been known that alcohol exposure is toxic to the developing fetus and can result in lifelong brain, cognitive and behavioral problems. Now, a new report out of UCLA shows that the effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure - or worse, a combination of methamphetamine and alcohol - may be even more damaging. ...

Roulette Smith, Ph.D. has long advocated the role of viruses in many different disorders (see: A Novel and Potentially Groundbreaking Viral Theory of Autism and Schizophrenia), including schizophrenia and Autism. Now researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill report that Rhesus monkey babies born to mothers who had the flu while pregn ...

A mother's nurture may provide powerful protection against risks her baby faces in the womb, according to a new article published online today in the journal Biological Psychiatry. The research shows that fetuses exposed to high levels of stress hormone – shown to be a harbinger for babies' poor cognitive development – can escape this fate if their mothers provide them sensitive care during infancy and todd ...

This has been a very busy month for new Autism research. A study of the development of autism in infants, comparing the behavior of the siblings of children diagnosed with autism to that of babies developing normally, has found that the nascent symptoms of the condition - a lack of shared eye contact, smiling, and communicative babbling - are not present at 6 months, but emerge gradually and only become app ...

A new study finds that exposure tobacco smoke may lead to behavioral problems in children. The scientists observed that the impact of tobacco smoke was especially detrimental during gestation. The results of the study have been published in the current online issue of the renowned journal Environmental Health Perspectives. ...

Today's update details new research which covers a broad spectrum of health related topics, such as hypnotherapy treatment for ulcerative colitis, yet another reason not to smoke, even more benefits of exercise, IQ and physical attractiveness lead to more money, computerized games can keep the elderly mentally sharp, and the EEG predicts neurological recovery in cardiac patients. ...

The British Medical Association recently (2009) released a comprehensive, evidenced-based guide to infant and childhood health and nutrition, called "Early Life Nutrition and Lifelong Health." This is a timely e-book in light of the epidemic of life style diseases that now afflict our youngest citizens. These concerns and trends have been detailed in the previous post, Obesity - #1 Childhood Health Concern ...