MALNUTRITION: Childhood Malnutrition & Elderly Brains

ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - A new Michigan State University study found diminished brain function later in life has its roots in childhood. Childhood malnutrition has long been linked to high mortality rates and life-long physical health problems. But little attention has been paid to long-term effects on brain development and function. Researchers studied more than 15 thousand elderly people in China. They found men who suffered from childhood hunger were 29% more likely to have cognitive impairment. Women were 35% more likely to have impaired brain function. MSU researchers say their findings could be very important to the developing world, where an estimated 178 million children under the age of 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition. The study appears in the journal Social Science & Medicine
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain/article/7/0/1670644/Education/Childhood.Malnutrition..and..Elderly.Brains