Child Development

How Bullying and Abuse May Age Children Prematurely

Echo / Getty Images

A hard life can age you, literally, researchers say. In fact, children who are exposed to violence at a young age show changes in their DNA equivalent to several years of premature aging.

Mom’s Exposure to Air Pollution Can Increase Kids’ Behavior Problems

Henrik Sorensen / Getty Images

Prenatal exposure to pollutants in city air is linked to later anxiety, depression and behavior problems in children.

How Mom’s Weight Before Pregnancy Can Affect a Baby’s Brain

Glow Images / Getty Images

Even before conception, a mother’s obesity may affect cognitive development in her baby-to-be.

ADHD: Why the Youngest Kids in a Class Are Most Likely to Be Diagnosed

Getty Images

Immaturity may be getting confused for symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in younger children.

Do Snoring Babies Become Troubled Children?

Getty Images

Infants with sleep disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea may be more vulnerable to behavioral and emotional problems later in life.

Brain Imaging Could Detect Autism Risk in Infants as Young as 6 Months

Image created by Jason Wolff, Ph.D.

Early intervention may help curb some of the more severe symptoms of autism. The question is, How do we identify at-risk children early enough?

How Child Abuse Primes the Brain for Future Mental Illness

Kelvin Murray / Getty Images

A brain scan study pinpoints the changes associated with child abuse that may raise people’s risk of depression, PTSD and addictions later in life.

Shhhh! The Quiet Joys of the Introvert

Photo-Illustration by Zachary Scott for TIME

Spare a thought for the poor introverts among us. In a world of party animals and glad-handers, they’re the ones who stand by the punch bowl.

Experts Say Current Lead Poisoning Levels Are Set Too High

Getty Images

Older homes are a dangerous source of lead poisoning for young children, and experts say no level of lead exposure is safe

Being Born Premature May Hurt Your IQ

K-P Wolf

Premature birth can be risky, to both mom and baby, but thanks to modern medicine, most preemies can be nurtured into a healthier and stronger state after a few weeks in neonatal intensive care. Still, even among babies who thrive, some developmental effects of being born too early may last into adulthood, new research finds.