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Newsweek
4 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Early Warning Sign for Children's ADHD Risk Discovered
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A developmental sign in early childhood could help to flag the future likelihood of ADHD—and ensure the right support is given at the right time. Brain wiring at this stage of life could lay the foundation for attention-related skills and hold the key to identifying young children who might go on to develop the neurodevelopmental condition. This is the conclusion of researchers from Canada's Simon Fraser University (SFU), who examined how the brain's structure and function develop and interact during the "critical" early years. "Think of it like a city," said Randy McIntosh, study author and founder of SFU's Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (INN), in a statement. "The roads are the brain's structure, and the traffic is the brain's activity. In young kids at this age, it turns out the roads matter most. "If the roads aren't built well, traffic can't flow smoothly, and that can affect how well kids can focus, switch tasks, and ignore distractions." Smiling little girl with two pony tails looking at camera. Smiling little girl with two pony tails looking at camera. Ridofranz/Getty Images "Genetics, prenatal factors, and early experiences may influence brain wiring," McIntosh explained to Newsweek. "Variations in these factors could cause differences in how brain networks that support attention develop. "In our study of typical development, we identified patterns related to attentional performance, which can serve as a baseline for future research into deviations observed in ADHD and the factors that affect them." Building on previous research, the researchers said studying both structural and functional connectivity changes can help to explain healthy neurodevelopmental patterns and potential predictive factors of behavioral outcomes. The study followed 39 children aged four to seven over the course of one year, using MRI scans to measure these types of connectivity in the brain. Participants performed tasks that assessed sustained attention (staying focused), selective attention (ignoring distractions) and executive attention (switching between tasks). The research team then applied graph theory—a method involving mathematical structures often used to study social networks—to analyze how different brain regions were connected and how those connections changed over time. They discovered that children performed better on attention tasks when their brain networks were organized like social networks with "tight-knit friend groups", where brain regions were more connected to others in their own group and had fewer connections with regions in other groups. "This age range, just before and during the early school years, is a critical time. It's when kids are facing new learning demands," said Leanne Rokos, study author and INN research technician, in a statement. "It's also when early interventions like behavioral therapy, school support plans, social skills training, and parent training can make a difference." "We know that social connection supports social and emotional development which is often affected in today's current society. With more and more young children and families spending time on technology and living in their individual silos this can have detrimental impacts on these areas of development," educational psychologist Emily Crosby, who was not involved in the study, told Newsweek. "The first three years—or 1,001 days—are the most important years for a child as this is also when a child forms an attachment style that will impact on their later attachments, even into their later romantic relationships. A child who has an anxious, insecure or avoidant attachment may be more hypervigilant which can present as attention difficulties. "It is about supporting parents early on to provide an optimal secure attachment so a child feels safe and secure [including helping parents to work on their own childhood experiences]." Little smiling boy holding the leg of his dad. Little smiling boy holding the leg of his dad. Prostock-Studio/Getty Images The researchers explained that "local clustering" and "weighted degree metrics" identified key regions where lower structural connectivity segregation was associated with better selective attention skills in older children. However in different regions—like one linked to spatial orientation—greater structural connectivity weighted degree and clustering appeared to be beneficial. "Evidently, early childhood is an extremely dynamic period where cognitive functioning is intricately and predominantly linked to structural network features. The current findings carry numerous implications for understanding healthy development and identifying potential targets for neurodevelopmental disorders," they wrote in the paper. The focus on brain wiring also lays the groundwork for future applications, according to the researchers, including the use of computer-based models like The Virtual Brain, a simulation platform co-developed at SFU. The tool helps researchers and clinicians model individual brain development and test potential interventions in a virtual environment. Their goal is create personalized models of brain development and try to simulate how a child's brain is wired and how it might change over time. "The hope is that understanding how a child's brain typically develops may allow us to identify risks early, tailor support more effectively, and offer it so that it can have the greatest impact," McIntosh explained. "This might include behavioral support to improve problem-solving skills, self-esteem, or self-control; school plans that accommodate a child's needs; and guidance for parents." Little girl with brain wiring illustrated over her head. Little girl with brain wiring illustrated over her head. Userba011d64_201/Getty Images "I think this study has the potential in showing how early childhood experiences can affect brain wiring which can have implications in supporting children and parents in those early years," said Crosby. "However, the study may have some negative connotations suggesting that ADHD is something we want to stop or reduce which is not the case but more that we want to support those with ADHD in understanding themselves and finding ways to support their associated difficulties. ADHD can offer lots of positives such as hyperfocus and some of the most innovative entrepreneurs have ADHD." In response to this, McIntosh said, "We are interested in how the brain's networks develop in early childhood and how this development might relate to different aspects of cognitive and behavioural health later on. The methods we use could, in principle, be applied to many areas. ADHD is just one example of where understanding brain development might help guide support and resources. "The goal is not to reduce or eliminate traits, but to better understand how varied developmental paths emerge, and how we can create environments that enable every child to succeed." Crosby also explained the genetic predisposition ADHD can have can also be exacerbated by early childhood trauma. "It is not yet clear whether someone with ADHD is more likely to be affected by trauma or whether the trauma can make it more likely for a child or adult to develop ADHD." While MRI technology isn't yet widely accessible for routine screening, the study authors hope their work will help lead to more targeted, efficient and accessible tools for assessing brain health in children. "These tools might include simpler, more affordable options such as computerized tests, wearable devices that track brain activity, or questionnaires designed to identify children who could benefit from further assessment," said McIntosh. "By exploring the link between brain measurements and behavoir or other easily measurable indicators, we can use more accessible tools to evaluate children's brain health." "We want to find the minimum amount of data needed to get a reliable picture of brain development," he added in a statement. "That way, we can bring these tools into more communities—even rural or remote ones—and support kids as early as possible." The researchers said long-term studies with a broader age range would better clarify how brain development influences attention over time. A larger and more diverse sample would also help ensure their findings are widely applicable. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about ADHD? Let us know via health@ Reference Rokos, L., Bray, S. L., Neudorf, J., Samson, A. D., Shen, K., & McIntosh, A. R. (2025). Examining Relationships between Functional and Structural Brain Network Architecture, Age, and Attention Skills in Early Childhood. eNeuro, 12(7).
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
'Amazing' Liz Earle skincare set worth £99 now down to £59
'Amazing' Liz Earle skincare set worth £99 now down to £59 "I have been using this skin routine for several years, and I love it. My skin never feels tight or greasy. It's a perfect combination." 'Amazing' Liz Earle skincare set worth £99 now down to £59 (Image: Ridofranz/Getty Images ) Liz Earle fans can save 40% on a full skincare routine when buying the Uplifting Daily Essentials bundle on the Liz Earle website. The £59 routine contains £99 worth of products but has been reduced to £59. Inside the set is the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 200ml, Instant Boost Skin Tonic Toner 200ml and Superskin Moisturiser with natural neroli 50ml. The brand doesn't believe in 'anti-ageing' and instead claims to be 'pro-age'. Liz Earle isn't the only brand to start selling bundles of a full skincare routine, Nip+Fab has a wide selection of routine kits with targeted at different skincare routines from £39.95. There's also an Essentials Bundle from Nip+Fab for £28.20 at Boots, it includes a cleanser, two serums and a moisturising top layer. READ MORE: Woman lost over six stone doing at-home workouts that only needed 'a wall' READ MORE: Roman fans nab both shades of summer dress with 'very pretty' detail to 'cover upper arms' On the Liz Earle website, the Uplifting Daily Essentials has an almost perfect average rating of 4.9 out of 5. One shopper said: "I have been using this skin care routine exclusively for about 25 years. People say that my skin is amazing for my age (73). I can't comment on that. But if it is, it is all thanks to Liz Earle's gentle, but effective skin care routine." A second person wrote: "I have been using this skin routine for several years, and I love it. My skin never feels tight or greasy. It's a perfect combination." A third wrote: "I've been buying Liz Earle for 10 years now and would never look back - Cleanse & Polish is best product ever and all the super skin items feeling and smell amazing. The price is reasonable so I would recommend to anyone so why not give it a try." The set includes a full skincare routine (Image: Liz Earle ) One of the lowest rated reviews reads: "I can't use your products anymore because you've put preservatives in that include panthenol and phenoxythanol. Bought for my step mum, she likes and doesn't have sensitive skin." Article continues below Another shopper said: "I have used Liz Earle for years. I use the Cleanse and Polish, both day and night moisturisers. I also like the exfoliator and the superskin overnight oil serum. I am a mature lady and my skin still feels soft and smooth. Hardly any wrinkles at 75. Will continue with this product." The Uplifting Daily Essentials bundle is available for £59 on the Liz Earle website.
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Why It Takes Parents Year To Understand How Kids Feel About Starting School
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It takes most parents a full year to truly understand how their child feels about school, according to a new study led by psychologists at the University of Cambridge. The "Ready or Not" study, which tracked over 200 UK children through reception (pre-kindergarten) and year 1 (first grade), found that parents' perceptions of their child's school experience often lag reality—mirroring how the child actually felt a year earlier. "We found a clear and wide gap between how parents think their children feel about the first year of school, and how children actually feel about school," Professor Claire Hughes, who led the research, said in a statement. Group of happy elementary classmates listening to teacher during lesson. Group of happy elementary classmates listening to teacher during lesson. Ridofranz "Our research shows that it typically takes parents a year to tune into their child's experiences of school," Hughes continued. "By year 1, parents are often only just catching up to where their children were a year earlier." To help close this gap sooner, Hughes and her team partnered with writer Anita Lehmann and illustrator Karin Eklund to create "How I Feel About My School", a new picture book published on April 29 by Routledge. The book uses relatable stories and built-in prompts to encourage meaningful conversations between children and their caregivers about the ups and downs of school life. The research found that children's wellbeing at school tends to dip between reception and year 1, likely due to the transition from play-based learning to more structured academic demands. Yet, those who reported feeling good about school early on developed stronger confidence in their reading, writing and math abilities by the next year. "A closer understanding of how a child feels about starting school will allow parents to gauge wellbeing and help their child adapt as key stages kick in," Hughes said. "Happy children are better learners, and the first years of school can set the tone." The findings suggest that children don't always talk about school unless something's gone wrong, which can leave parents with a skewed view. The new book aims to normalize everyday emotional fluctuations and help parents tune in before a full year passes. "Kids have ups and downs in a day for lots of reasons," said Hughes. "There can be a tendency to over-medicalize sadness, but getting through a school day is a big deal for children, and problems are a natural part of that." With tools like "How I Feel About My School", parents may no longer have to wait until year 1 to finally see school through their child's eyes.
