Healthy lungs 'secret to healthy brain' in kids

New York (PTI) Healthy lungs is the secret to smarter brains in kids, according to a new study. Previous studies have linked lung function to mental acuity in middle-aged and older adults and there is evidence that the respiratory and neurological systems are influenced by some of the same factors during childhood.

Now, a team at Harvard University has found that healthy lungs in children increase their memory, learning and intelligence, the media reported on wednesday. The researchers, led by DrShakira Franco Suglia, came to the conclusion after examining data on 165 children who had been followed since birth.

At the age of six, the children had their lung function tested. At nine, they completed standard tests of memory, learning ability and intelligence. The researchers found that for each increase in the children's lung-function performance, there was actually a corresponding increase in their cognitive-test scores. The link remained even when they took into consideration factors that could be related to both lung function and cognitive abilities in children, like asthma, and exposure to lead or parents' smoking.

"Although it remains unclear just how pulmonary function influences cognitive outcomes, a growing literature suggests possible mechanisms and supports the argument for biological plausibility," Dr Franco Suglia said. More studies are required to delve into the connection between children's lung function and their brain function, according to the researchers. The results of the study have been published in the 'Psychosomatic Medicine' journal.

news source : http://www.hindu.com/