Pollution even when ‘safe’ slows down brain growth in kids

Babies exposed to even “safe” levels of air pollution in the womb may be at an increased risk of having brain abnormalities that can contribute to impaired cognitive function by school-age, finds a study. According to the European Union 25 µg/m3 is the safe level of the fine particle. Previous studies have linked acceptable air pollution levels with impact on lungs, heart, and other organs including cognitive decline and foetal growth development. However, the new study showed that air pollution levels related to brain alterations in the foetal brain, which is in developing stages and has no mechanisms to protect against or remove environmental toxins, were below those considered to be safe.

“We observed brain development effects in relationship to fine particles levels below the current EU limit,” said the lead author. The findings showed that exposure to fine particles during foetal life was associated with a thinner outer layer of the brain, called the cortex, in several regions. These brain abnormalities contribute in part to difficulty with inhibitory control — the ability to regulate self-control over temptations and impulsive behaviour which is related to mental health problems such as addictive behaviour and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

“The observed cognitive delays at early ages could have significant long-term consequences such as increased risk of mental health disorders and low academic achievement, in particular due to the ubiquity of the exposure,” the author said. “Therefore, we cannot warrant the safety of the current levels of air pollution in our cities,” he added. For the study, the team assessed air pollution levels, including levels of nitrogen dioxide — a prominent air pollutant caused by traffic and cigarette smoking coarse particles, and fine particles, at home during the foetal life of 783 children.

Brain imaging performed when the children were between six and 10 years old revealed abnormalities in the thickness of the brain cortex of the precuneus and rostral middle frontal region.

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Special fats found in blood essential for human brain growth and function

A new research has revealed that there are certain special fats that are found in blood that are essential for human brain growth and function.

The research led by Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore showed that mutations in the protein Mfsd2a causes impaired brain development in humans as it carries a special type of fat called lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), which is composed of essential fatty acids like omega-3.

The researchers examined  that Mfsd2a mutations in two families in Libya and Egypt eliminated Mfsd2a's ability to transport LPCs that restricted to create enough amount of LPCs to be absorbed by the brain and as a result they faced severely reduced brain size and children died between one and six years of age.

The research conducted in North Pakistan observed that person, who had reduced Mfsd2a transport activity, had microcephaly, intellectual disabilities, impaired control of their limbs, and absent speech.

Dr David Silver, who led the research, said that their findings confirmed the essential role of LPCs in brain development and function in humans, and indicates that brain uptake of LPCs during foetal development and  in adult life is important.

The research is published in Nature Genetics journal.
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