How do environmental factors affect the brain development of children and teenagers?

On 16 and 17 October, neuroscientists, neurologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists and neuroepidemiologists will meet CosmoCaixa (Barcelona) in a B·Debate, an initiative of Biocat and la Caixa. This edition is led by the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL).

The air we breathe, air pollution, water quality, food, industrial chemicals and alcohol are some of the environmental factors affect the health of people. In the early stages of life, from conception through adolescence, adverse environmental elements can have negative consequences on brain development of young people.

Scientists will discuss about the current knowledge of the impact of environmental conditions on brain development of children and adolescents, and the influence of these elements in the prenatal period-during gestation.

The brain is plastic

The brain is a plastic organ with the ability to learn and memorize, among other complex cognitive processes that make us human. "The brain is the organ that needs more time to develop," says Jordi Sunyer, scientific leader of B·Debate and CREAL codirector, an ISGlobal research centre.

Further information at: http://www.bdebate.org/en/forum/environment-and-child-brain-development-challenges-global-context