Unique study gives mum and baby food for thought
January 2008Researchers at the School of Psychological Sciences are recruiting hundreds of pregnant women in a unique study to find out how important certain fatty acids are in developing their babies’ brains.
Omega 3 and 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which are found in oily fish, nuts and seeds, are crucial to brain development. They help regulate cell metabolism and maintain cell membranes, which are essential in activity of the neurons (nerve cells which transmit messages around the brain).
However while there have been a number of studies demonstrating the importance of certain PUFA known as long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) in brain development and indicating positive effects on children’s cognitive processes, a clear picture of specific cognitive benefits has not yet been gained.
Alison Rees’s study of 200 mothers from Greater Manchester will comprehensively examine maternal PUFA intake during pregnancy alongside a range of infant cognitive outcomes, in order to clarify the role of these nutrients on aspects of cognitive development.
Alison will examine the women’s and babies’ nutrition from pregnancy to toddlerhood and also test the babies’ cognitive development (motor skills, learning speed, early reasoning and information processing) at three, nine, 18 and 24 months at the University’s world famous BabyLab.
- For more information or to take part in the study contact Alison Rees on 0161 275 1970
