Zinc and cognitive development
Tóm tắt
Cognition is a field of thought processes by which an individual processes information through skills of perception, thinking, memory, learning and attention. Zinc deficiency may affect cognitive development by alterations in attention, activity, neuropsychological behavior and motor development. The exact mechanisms are not clear but it appears that zinc is essential for neurogenesis, neuronal migration, synaptogenesis and its deficiency could interfere with neurotransmission and subsequent neuropsychological behavior. Studies in animals show that zinc deficiency during the time of rapid brain growth, or during the juvenile and adolescent period affects cognitive development by decreasing activity, increasing emotional behavior, impairing memory and the capacity to learn. Evidence from human studies is limited. Low maternal intakes of zinc during pregnancy and lactation were found to be associated with less focused attention in neonates and decreased motor functions at 6 months of age. Zinc supplementation resulted in better motor development and more playfulness in low birth weight infants and increased vigorous and functional activity in infants and toddlers. In older school going children the data is controversial but there is some evidence of improved neuropsychological functions with zinc supplementation. Additional research is required to determine the exact biological mechanisms, the critical periods, the threshold of severity and the long-term effects of zinc deprivation on cognitive development.
Từ khóa
Tài liệu tham khảo
Strobel DA , Sandstead HH (1984) Social and learning changes following prenatal or postnatal zinc deprivation in rhesus monkey. In The Neurobiology of Zinc. Part B: Deficiency, Toxicity and Pathology, pp. 121–138. [ Frederickson CJ , Howell OA & Kasarskis EJ , editors]. New York, NY: Alan R. Liss.
Dipietro JA , Hodgson DM , Costigan KA , Johnson TRB (1996 c) Fetal antecedents of infant temperament 67:2568–2583.
Bayley, 1969, Bayley Scales of Infant Development
Brazelton TB (1984) Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale. Second edition. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, Spastics International Medical Publications.
Sandstead, 1975, Zinc deficiency and brain development in the rat, Federation Proceedings, 34, 86
Halas, 1982, Short term memory (STM) deficits due to mild zinc deficiency during gestation and lactation: a reffirmation, Federation Proceedings, 41
Sazawal, 1996, Effect of zinc supplementation on observed activity in preschool children in an urban slum population, Pediatrics, 98, 1132, 10.1542/peds.98.6.1132
Pfeiffer, 1997, Zinc, the brain and behavior, Biology Psychology, 17, 513
Dvergsten, 1984, Vol. 11, 17
Hammill DD (1985) Detroit tests of learning aptitudeTX: Proed.
Ruff, 1996, Attention in Early Development
Hurley, 1972, Neurobiology of the Trace Metals Zinc and Copper, 51
Bayley, 1993, Bayley Scales of Infant Development
Fierke, 2000, Function and mechanism of zinc, Journal of Nutrition, 130, 1437S, 10.1093/jn/130.5.1437S
Dreosti, 1983, 135
Piaget, 1997, The Language and Thought of the Child
Griffiths R ; 1979 The abilities of babies. A study in mental measurement. England: Eden House.