Protein calorie malnutrition: Brain development, intelligence, and behavior. II. Postnatal nutrition
1984
Kadam, S.S. | Salunkhe, D.K. | Jadhav, S.J. | Raje-Bhonsle, K.I.
In recent years, interest has grown in how chronic undernutrition during preschool and school years affects behavior and mental ability in later life. Evidence is accumulating that malnutrition that is severe enough and occurs early enough may result in reduced mental development due to impaired brain development during the period of rapid growth. Post natal malnutrition in infants retards cell division in the brain, resulting in fewer cells in all regions. Head circumference in malnourished infants is reduced. Undernutrition during the sucking period alters lipid content of the brain in rats. Nucleic acid content of the brain is decreased, and the reduction in DNA and cell number are permanent if the malnutrition occurs during weaning. Total body protein and the free amino acid pool are also significantly reduced. Amino acids are needed for brain growth and repair and for functional purposes, such as neurotransmitter synthesis. Studies in animals have demonstrated that severe undernutrition in early life delays brain development, alters brain metabolism, and impairs mental development. In humans, severe malnutrition has been shown to impair general intelligence, spatial abilities, memory, and learning and to reduce performance on developmental and cognitive tests. The first 5 to 6 months of life appear to be critical as far as reversability of damage is concerned. The implications of these findings, particularly for the nearly 70 percent of the world population, that suffers from chronic undernutrition of varying degrees are staggering. (aj)
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