Brain
Development
From birth to the age of 3 a child sees the fastest rate of brain development of his entire life span.
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brain development
The brain undergoes an amazing period of development after birth with the progressivematuration of the brain giving rise to theacquisition of psychomotor skills, language,social and emotional development andcognitive functions such as attention andlearning.
A 4-week-old fetus forms new neurons at a rate of 250,000 every minute. This rapid rate of development is reflected in the rates of glucose utilization. In the first 4 years the child’s brain utilizes twice as much energy in the form of glucose metabolism as that of adults.
This period of incredible and rapid development creates a window of opportunity in which the brain is particularly sensitive to experience and the acquisition of new information. The experiences a child has during this time will shape the architecture of his/her brain and neuronal connections
The advances in research in infant neurodevelopment highlight the crucial nature of experience in shaping the brain, the role of nutrition for health development and the importance of stimulating learning.
Experts Interviews on brain development
Experts Interviews - The effect of microbiota on mood and behaviour
Prof. Sylvie Rabot
Brain Development
The gut-brain axis is a cutting-edge topic that refers to the liaison between cognitive and emotional centres in the brain and intestinal functions. Several early studies have shown that stress can perturb the composition of the microbiota which can affect behaviour, gene expression in the brain and the development of the nervous system. In this webinar, Prof. Sylvie Rabot adresses the brain and behavioural responses to stress, and how gut microbiota dysbiosis could contribute to the pathophysiology of anxiety and mood disorders in humans.
Sylvie Rabot is a Research scientist at INRAE (French National Institue for Agricultural Research) and MICALIS Institute. She is a member of the French Society for Microbiology, the French Neurosciences Society and the french Veterinary Academy. Author of more than 80 scientific publications, her current research activities are about the Microbiota Gut- Brain Axis.
experts publications on brain development
Microbiota, diet, and the gut–brain axis in multiple sclerosis and stroke
Brain Development
L. Diaz-Marugan et al. 2023
Intestinalmicrobiota can influence the phenotype and function of immune cell responses through the dissemination of bacterial antigens or metabolites. Diet is one of the major forces shaping the microbiota composition and metabolism, contributing to host homeostasis and disease susceptibility.
Neurodevelopment, nutrition, and growth until 12 mo of age in infants fed a low-energy, low-protein formula supplemented with bovine milk fat globule membranes: a randomized controlled trial
Brain Development
N. Timby (2014)
Observational studies have indicated that differences in the composition of human milk and infant formula yield benefits in cognitive development and early growth for breastfed infants.
Neuroprotective Role of Lactoferrin during Early Brain Development and Injury through Lifespan
Brain Development
Schirmbeck et al. (2022)
Early adverse fetal environments can significantly disturb central nervous system (CNS) development and subsequently alter brain maturation. Nutritional status is a major variable to be considered during development and increasing evidence links neonate and preterm infant impaired brain growth with neurological and psychiatric diseases in adulthood.
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Webinars on brain development
Webinar - the role of microbiota in brain homeostasis
Prof. Francesca Ronchi
Brain Development
In this webinar, Dr. Ronchi goes into depth about the development of the gut microbiota, outlining interesting findings such as which gateway typically hosts the highest microbial diversity and the precise role of the microbiota in health and organ development. She also explains the current research advancements on the gut-brain axis, its processes and how it may affect our behaviour, brain function, and mental health. The current research she is undertaking at her laboratory is based on the following open questions about which she provides a detailed status update:
- How does the intestinal flora affect the central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis?
- Which are the pathways that are activated in response to bacterial exposure?
- How could these pathways mediate the CNS homeostasis?
Dr. Ronchi is a Senior Researcher at the Department of BioMedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Bern. She graduated from postdoctoral Research. She dedicates to understanding how the intestinal microbiota shapes and educates the host Central Nervous System (CNS) immune responses in steady-state and inflammatory conditions, particularly during autoimmunity for translational research in the field of neuro-immunological diseases. Dr. Ronchi received a Biostime Institute for Nutrition and Care (BINC) grant under our funding program 2019 on “The role of microbiota in brain homeostasis during adulthood and early life.”
Funded projects on brain development
Nutritional therapies targeting the neuronal AhR for functional bowel disorders and IBS in children
Brain Development
De Jonge W., Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands, 2022
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common disorder of the gut-brain interactions diagnosed in gastroenterology in children and adults. In addition to the increased bowel reactions such as cramps and diarrhea, pain receptors seem to be more sensitive.
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Exploring the role of the enteric nervous system on myelination during early life
Brain Development
Giron M.C., University of Padova, Italy, 2021
During infancy neural axons rapid myelination, slowly consolidates spatiotemporally until adulthood to ensure neurotransmission and brain functions. The prefrontal cortex, undergoing later myelination in new-born, is affected by neonatal intestinal microbial status, and highly implicated in the development of brain in early life.
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Lactoferrin for neuroprotection in term neonatal HypoxicIichemic Encephalopathy
Brain Development
Sizonenko S., University of Geneva, Switzerland 2020
Neonatalhypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a leading cause of mortality and chronic disability. Lactoferrin (Lf) is the major whey protein in milk presenting iron-binding, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties able to reverse HI brain damage.
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The role of microbiota in brain homeostasis during adulthood and early life
Brain Development
Ronchi F., Department of Biomedical research, University of Bern, Switzerland, 2019
This project will help to understand the basic mechanisms leading to learning and memory functions and this will pave the way for new discoveries to treat human populations affected by chronic neurological memory/cognitive disorders.
Gut Bacteria and Brain of the Baby: to link up the dynamic of gut colonization in preterms born at gestational age of 30-326/7 weeks and their psychomotor development at 2 years
Brain Development
Bellanger A., CHU Rennes/ INRA Rennes/ NUMECAN, France, 2018
Composition of the gut microbiota can influence brain development and maternal nutrition can influence both offspring microbiota and brain neurogenesis and later cognitive and behavior (eating, social, locomotor, exploratory) abilities. We hypothesize that gut microbiota of preterm babies is a determinant of their developmental trajectories.
4 areas of expertise
Stay at the forefront of healthcare innovation and best practices, empowering yourself with the latest research and insights in our four areas of expertise : mother and child health, biotics and microbiome health, immunity and allergy and brain development.
Resources Information for parents
Raising awareness of maternal and infant health to parents is an important duty of health care professionals. We created the parents corner to provide you with insightful resources to help you in your mission.
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