Food as brain medicine
Children who had increased amounts of omega-3 fatty acids – found in foods such as salmon, walnuts and kiwi fruit – performed better in school, in reading and in spelling and had fewer behavioral problems, according to UCLA’s Fernando Gómez-Pinilla. See more superfoods here.
Bully busters
Schoolyard bullying has moved onto the Internet, and a UCLA study found 75 percent of teenagers say they’ve been the victims of “cyber-bullying.” To help schools deal with bullying, the Cool Tools program (PDF) at UCLA’s University Elementary School teaches children how to avoid bullies or walk away with dignity, or stop bullying themselves.
Cancer vaccine?
The controversy over whether the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine should be mandatory for girls entering middle school has many parents wondering if it is right for their daughters. <more>
| A parent’s-eye view of autism treatment, diagnosis and research at UCLA. |
Understanding autism
The long-term outlook for children with autism is in many ways more hopeful than ever:
Glued to the screen
With media changing so quickly, many parents struggle to stay current with what their children are exposed to – and what that means for their development. Whether kids are forging their own identity on MySpace or Facebook, or getting mixed messages through PG-13 movies (PDF), UCLA experts are keeping a close eye.
Learning Language
How do infants and toddlers acquire the ability to speak and understand language so effortlessly? The answer has implications for everything from public policy around bilingual education to improving interventions for those who are speech-impaired and developmentally delayed. <more>
Micro-science for our littlest ones
Nanotechnology – the science of microscopic machines that promise miracles in almost every area of society – is the Next Big Thing. UCLA is at the leading edge with one of the world’s first programs dedicated solely to nanomedicine and pediatric patients. Why it matters to you.
Busting ADHD myths
There are genetic and physical brain differences in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, medication can help, and no one “catches” ADHD from bad parenting, says Dr. James McGough, director of the UCLA ADHD Clinic. <more>
Depression
It’s hard even to accept the idea that a toddler could suffer from a mood disorder, let alone know how to recognize and treat it. Yet as many as 3 percent of all U.S. kids are clinically depressed. Here are some of the signs – and they may not be what you expect. <more>
