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Study reveals key social factors that support preterm children's mental health

Around 8% of all births in England are preterm. Despite improvements in neonatal care and survival, preterm children still have more difficulties in later life than their peers, including a higher risk of mental health problems, which have not improved in recent decades.

16 Jul 2025

Research unravels the immune secrets of a cured pediatric rhabdoid tumor

Although relatively rare, many childhood cancers remain life-threatening and lack effective personalized treatments. Rhabdoid tumors are among these fatal cancers and can develop in various tissues and organs.

16 Jul 2025

Childhood heart health predicts lifelong well-being, study finds

Optimal heart health from birth through adolescence, as measured by a combination of metrics, leads to long-lasting cardiovascular and overall physical, cognitive and mental health, according to the systematic review published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

16 Jul 2025

Routine vaccines may be the key to fighting antibiotic resistance

A study reveals that rising vaccine coverage in children is linked to reduced antibiotic prescriptions, suggesting a shift in the fight against drug resistance.

16 Jul 2025

New method expands access to patient-specific amniotic stem cells

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered that amniotic fluid stem cells can be safely collected from vaginal fluid after childbirth rather than relying on more invasive methods that can pose some risk to the mother and fetus.

16 Jul 2025

Newborn babies show preference for kindness over cruelty

They've barely opened their eyes, but newborn babies already seem to prefer nice behaviors.

16 Jul 2025

Understanding the early roots of sensory differences in autism

A researcher from the University of Kansas Life Span Institute is part of an international group that recently published a comprehensive review of differences in sensory processing for people with autism during the prenatal (in utero) and neonatal (birth to a few months old) phases of life.

15 Jul 2025

WHO and UNICEF urge action to protect children through vaccines

In 2024, 89% of infants globally – about 115 million – received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccine, and 85% – roughly 109 million – completed all three doses, according to new national immunization coverage data released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

15 Jul 2025

Person-focused approach explains distinct autism genetic subtypes

Research identifies four autism classes driven by different genes, enhancing understanding of ASD's genetic complexity and improving diagnostic approaches.

15 Jul 2025

Study highlights dangers of vascular injuries in young gunshot victims

A study presented today at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery's (SNIS) 22nd Annual Meeting found that almost half of gunshot wound injuries to the brain in children and young adults include penetrating cerebrovascular injuries (PCVIs).

15 Jul 2025

Study finds no increased risk from vaccine aluminum exposure

A nationwide cohort study of Danish children examined the association between cumulative aluminum exposure from early childhood vaccination and the risk for development of autoimmune, atopic or allergic, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

15 Jul 2025

Teen obesity and diabetes may weaken lifelong bone strength

Obesity and type 2 diabetes in adolescence can interfere with bone development, potentially increasing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life, according to a study being presented Monday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

15 Jul 2025

New autoimmune target identified in pediatric idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is a serious kidney disease in children with no clear cause. In a recent study, researchers have identified a novel autoantibody targeting vinculin—a protein crucial for kidney cell structure—as a significant factor in INS.

14 Jul 2025

Most kids’ packaged foods in Australia are ultra-processed and energy-dense, study finds

A decade-long analysis of packaged foods for Australian children reveals that most new products are both ultra-processed and high in energy density. The study highlights a pressing need for stronger regulations to protect young consumers’ diets.

14 Jul 2025

Early antibiotic exposure weakens infant immune development

A new study led by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) found that early-life exposure to antibiotics can impair an infant's developing immune system, and that a naturally occurring metabolite may hold the key to reversing that damage.

14 Jul 2025

Nicotine pouches pose growing danger to young children

A new study reveals that ingestions of nicotine pouches by young children have surged in recent years. Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center analyzed calls to U.S. poison centers and found an alarming 763% increase in the rate of reported nicotine pouch ingestions among children younger than 6 years old from 2020 to 2023.

14 Jul 2025

Grandfather’s chemical exposure may influence granddaughter’s puberty timing

A grandfather's exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may impact the age when his granddaughter starts her first period, according to preliminary data being presented Sunday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

13 Jul 2025

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in early life linked to cravings for sugary and fatty foods

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in early life, including during gestation and infancy, results in a higher preference for sugary and fatty foods later in life, according to an animal study being presented Sunday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

13 Jul 2025

Study links common sweeteners to early puberty in teens

Consuming certain sweeteners commonly found in foods and beverages may increase the risk of early puberty in children, particularly among those who are genetically predisposed, according to a study being presented Sunday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

13 Jul 2025

Ultra-processed foods threaten brain health in kids and teens, review warns

Children, adolescents, and unborn babies exposed to high levels of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) face increased risks of impaired brain development, cognitive deficits, and long-term mental health challenges. The review underscores how UPF-driven changes in reward pathways, nutrient deficits, inflammation, and the gut–brain axis can have lasting impacts across generations.

13 Jul 2025