Newborns’ clumsy arm movements show how smart they are
For the first time, researchers are measuring the brain processes that control an infant’s first arm movements. The findings may shatter old myths about the immature baby brain.
Women and children
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Important cause of preeclampsia discovered
New findings show that cholesterol crystals in the uterine wall are the villain that researchers have been looking for. These crystals cause intensified inflammation in people who become ill.
When research includes writing children’s books
Tricia Larose is a cancer researcher who did her PhD and a postdoc at NTNU. But her research interests went beyond studying cancer — to writing about the disease for children.
800 million children still exposed to lead
Every third child in the world has too much lead in their body, according to a report from UNICEF and Pure Earth. Norwegian children are also affected.
Mindfulness training helps men manage anger
Before treatment, 85 per cent of the men in the study beat, kicked or shook their girlfriend. After treatment, most of them had stopped being violent.
Temperament affects children’s eating habits
Temperamental children are at greater risk for developing unhealthy eating habits.
Is your child getting enough sleep?
Children who get the least sleep have the greatest risk of developing mental health issues.
High screen use among children can lower emotion understanding
Kids are spending more and more time in front of screens — but it may come at a cost.
Fish in early childhood reduces risk of disease
It doesn’t take that much fish for young children to reap big health benefits. Even eating fish just once a week yields good results.
Nepal tests maternal education designed by NTNU students
Nepal ranks high in maternal and child mortality statistics. A study trip to the mountain country inspired several NTNU students to help improve the situation of Nepali women.
Parents of premature babies want more information
Parents with children in the neonatal intensive care unit want more information, supervision and advice to meet their children’s needs, according to results from a new PhD dissertation.
Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a warning sign
Women who experience hypertensive disorders while pregnant are more susceptible to developing cardiovascular disease later in life. But the main reason doesn’t stem from the hypertensive disorder itself.
Well-known drug has less risk for preterm delivery in PCOS
Metformin significantly reduces the risk of late miscarriages and preterm births for women with PCOS. But the drug does not work to prevent gestational diabetes, according to a large Nordic study from NTNU and St. Olavs hospital.
To abort or not to abort – making difficult choices alone
Some pregnant women are so conflicted about abortion that they don’t even talk about it with their own mother.
C-sections by trained health officers a safe alternative
Sierra Leone has few doctors and even fewer surgeons to serve its seven million people. Since 2011, a non-profit group called CapaCare has been training community health officers to perform basic lifesaving surgeries. A new study shows the programme is working well when it comes to the most common surgery in the country — Caesarean sections.
Advice for parents who struggle with picky eaters
Children have to taste a food at least ten times before knowing whether they like it or not. Pickiness is hereditary, says an NTNU professor. She has nine tips for parents with picky eaters.
Moms matter, dads don’t… when it comes to children’s weight
When mothers lose weight, their children slim down too. When mothers are less active, children grow bigger. Dad’s choices appear to play less of a role.
Vitamin D deficiency affects many pregnant women
Only one in five women follows the recommendations for taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy. Vitamin D deficiency can have serious repercussions for the skeletal health of both mother and child.
Ten findings about ADHD, behavioural disorders and overweight in children
Lots of children grow out of their ADHD symptoms. Parents believe children are more physically active than they really are. Sad children are easily overlooked and don’t get the help they need in the preschool years. Some children gain more weight than others – which can solely be explained by children’s eating behaviour.
How very low birth weight affects brain development
Children born with very low birth weights are at an increased risk of cognitive, emotional and behavioral problems throughout their lives. But what exactly happens in the brain to cause these problems?
Heavy children more likely to underestimate their size
Children with a higher BMI are less accurate in estimating their own body size compared to their slimmer counterparts. And the bigger their body is, the more inaccurate their guesses.
Melatonin offers hope for brain-damaged children
It can be difficult to treat children born with brain damage. But new research on the hormone melatonin offers hope.
Friendships between young children can protect against ADHD
Children who experience social exclusion in preschool are at greater risk of becoming so-called “school losers”. Researchers at NTNU Social Research are studying what happens to children who are marginalized.
Foetal genes can increase the risk of illness during pregnancy
A mother’s risk of getting preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening illness associated with pregnancy, can be linked in some cases to genes from her foetus.