We've covered here at MH Blog the importance of understanding the longterm effects of marginal socioeconomic conditions on child and developing brains. The more these effects are studies, the more important are prenatal and early childhood experiences understood to be in long-term connection with health over the lifespan.
Thus, I want in particular to highlight a recent article summarizing these findings that appeared in JAMA. One of the co-authors, Jack Shonkoff, was featured at length in the award-winning documentary Unnatural Causes, an MH Blog favorite, and another, Bruce McEwen, is one of the leading researches in the field. Highly recommended. Here is the Abstract:
A scientific consensus is emerging that the origins of adult disease are often found among developmental and biological disruptions occurring during the early years of life. These early experiences can affect adult health in 2 ways—either by cumulative damage over time or by the biological embedding of adversities during sensitive developmental periods. In both cases, there can be a lag of many years, even decades, before early adverse experiences are expressed in the form of disease. From both basic research and policy perspectives, confronting the origins of disparities in physical and mental health early in life may produce greater effects than attempting to modify health-related behaviors or improve access to health care in adulthood.
It is these kinds of considerations that leads me to lament how the notion of public health and social prevention -- what I have heard referred to as "primordial prevention" -- morphed into a more acute care notion of "preventive medicine," which the slightest glance at the importance of child brain development demonstrates are not remotely equivalent. A debate over the merits of screening adults for prostate cancer, while important on its own terms, has very little to do with the merits of primordial prevention in preventing chronic illness over the lifespan.
Thoughts?
(h/t EQUIDAD)
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