Poverty, Stress, and Brain Development: New Directions for Prevention and Intervention
Clancy Blair, C Cybele Raver, Clancy Blair, C Cybele Raver
Abstract
We review some of the growing evidence of the costs of poverty to children's neuroendocrine function, early brain development, and cognitive ability. We underscore the importance of addressing the negative consequences of poverty-related adversity early in children's lives, given evidence supporting the plasticity of executive functions and associated physiologic processes in response to early intervention and the importance of higher order cognitive functions for success in school and in life. Finally, we highlight some new directions for prevention and intervention that are rapidly emerging at the intersection of developmental science, pediatrics, child psychology and psychiatry, and public policy.
Keywords: brain development; early childhood; executive function; infancy; parenting; poverty; stress.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Copyright © 2016 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Source: PubMed