Better Early: Critical Windows in Brain and Cognitive Development

The first 3 years of life are when dynamic neurodevelopmental processes unfold. This is marked by sensitive or critical windows of opportunities, during which the young brain is both adaptable and vulnerable. Factors like nutrient deficiencies and inadequate environmental stimulation are more likely to negatively impact early brain development, especially when necessary and timely identification and intervention are not put in place. The benefits of adequate nutrition, especially breastfeeding during the first 1,000 days, cannot be overemphasized. Evidences from newer modalities of research, utilizing magnetic resonance imaging, continue to point to the significant influence of early life nutrition on early brain development, particularly myelination. Paradigms show that a child’s physical growth, activity, and overall health influence the way he interacts with the environment, laying the scaffolds for brain development and learning. Current evidences show how the recent pandemic has impacted this very foundation, affecting children’s nutrition, behavior, and development. There is a renewed call for pediatricians and other healthcare practitioners in clinics and communities to more ardently screen, monitor for, and provide proper advice for concerns regarding growth and development during the first 3 years of life to help mitigate the impact of current global events on children’s potential to adapt, learn, and be productive adults in the future.