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Well Beingneurodevelopment
ECHO researchers use data from more than 64,000 diverse children and their families across the U.S. to examine how much factors such as chemical exposures, environmental hazards, social stressors, maternal health during pregnancy, and other considerations may influence neurodevelopment.
Neurodevelopment Resources
CDC: Children's Mental Health
Shares articles on child mental health, including information on emotional development and child mental health disorders.
MedlinePlus: School-Age Children Development
Provides information on the development of school-age children, including physical development, behavior, language development, and parenting tips.
How ECHO Advances Research on Children's Brain Development
The prenatal period and childhood are critical times for brain development or neurodevelopment, but this important process continues during adolescence until early adulthood. Understanding the associations between environmental factors and neurodevelopmental outcomes can inform prevention efforts, interventions, and other strategies to enhance child health.
Healthy brain development is key for cognitive, physical, and social functioning. ECHO research can help explain the factors that impact neurodevelopment in children and how neurodevelopment might have additional effects on other health outcomes. This research can help inform programs, policies, and practices that address health differences from the beginning, promoting a lifetime of good health that continues for generations.
What We're Learning
The ECHO Program has published more than 1,500 articles about the results of its research, including many that looked at neurodevelopment outcomes.
Here are recent examples of that research:
Exposure to Certain Phthalates During Pregnancy May Affect Brain Development in Infant Girls
November 2022
Certain phthalates measured in the infant’s first stool seemed associated with lower scores in girls under age 5 years on a common test that measures motor, visual, and language skills.
ECHO Study Suggests Prenatal Exposure to Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) May Be Linked to Autism-Related Traits in Children
January 2023
Prenatal exposure to one specific PFAS chemical, perfluorononanoic acid, seemed associated with an increase in autism-related traits in children.
No Association Between Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy, Child's Risk for Autism-Related Traits
November 2022
Prenatal use of antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), did not increase a child’s risk for autism spectrum disorder or related traits.
Gestational Diabetes and Postpartum Depression May Be Linked With Early Childhood Behavior Problems
May 2023
Gestational diabetes, prenatal maternal depressive symptoms, and postnatal maternal depressive symptoms each seemed associated with increased child behavior problems.
Questions
For more information, please email the NIH at NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.
For media inquiries or to request an interview, contact Rebekah Yeager at rebekah.yeager@nih.gov.
Questions
For more information, please email the NIH at NIHKidsandEnvironment@od.nih.gov.
For media inquiries or to request an interview, contact Rebekah Yeager at rebekah.yeager@nih.gov.
Read Additional ECHO Research Related to Neurodevelopment
Harsh Parenting and High Socioeconomic Stress May Be Associated with Higher Internalizing Problems Like Anxiety in Children, ECHO Study Finds Read more
ECHO Study Suggests Living Near Green Space Is Associated with Lower Anxiety and Depression in Preschool-Age Kids Read more
ECHO Researchers Study the Relationship Between Maternal Education and Children’s Neurocognitive Development Over Time Read more
ECHO Research Suggests Airborne Lead Exposure Affects Children’s Cognitive Development, Impacting Males More Than Females Read more
New ECHO Research Highlights Gaps in Literature Studying Role of Fathers in Child Development Read more
ECHO Researchers Characterize Children Born Preterm into Four Neurobehavioral Profiles Read more
ECHO Researchers Measure Pandemic-Related Traumatic Stress in Families Read more
“Accelerated” Biological Age at Birth Not Linked to Behavioral and Emotional Health Outcomes in Early Childhood Read more
New ECHO Cohort Research Finds Adolescents with Disabilities May Have Been More Vulnerable to Social Disruptions During COVID-19 Pandemic Read more
ECHO Study Suggests Maternal Sleep During Second Trimester of Pregnancy May be Associated with ADHD Symptoms and Sleep Quality in Early Childhood Read more