Radiation therapy for the most common childhood brain tumor can cause memory problems, new research suggests. Specifically, it can leave young survivors struggling to create memories of recent personal events, the small study found. But survivors’ ability to recall ones that happened before radiation wasn’t affected. “There are some known cognitive effects from radiation treatment,… read on >
Children whose parents have cancer are more likely to struggle in school and to have lower incomes as adults, a new Danish study suggests. The study included more than 1 million people born in Denmark from 1978 through 1999. Before their 18th birthday, about one in 20 had a parent diagnosed with cancer. By age… read on >
Play is a child’s most important work, preschool teachers like to say, and a new American Academy of Pediatrics report wholeheartedly agrees. Play is a crucial way for kids to develop social and mental skills, head off stress and build a healthy bond with parents, the child health experts say. “We’re recommending that doctors write… read on >
Nearly 40 percent of teen drivers in the United States say they text while driving, a new survey finds. Researchers analyzed survey data from teen drivers aged 14 and older in 35 states and found that more than a third said they’d texted while driving at least once in the month before the survey. In… read on >
There are a number of things you can do to ensure your kids have a smooth start to the new school year. Don’t wait until the first day of class to seek help. Schools are open over the summer to address any concerns you or your child might have, and the best time to get… read on >
Most American parents would forbid their teen from getting a tattoo due to concerns about possible infection and future job prospects, a nationwide survey finds. The poll of more than 1,000 parents found 78 percent said they would not let their 13- to 18-year-old get inked. About half expressed concern about infection, scarring or transmission… read on >
If your child has a food allergy, safety prevention belongs at the top of your back-to-school checklist. “Ensuring that parents and school personnel are all on the same page as far as preventing exposures and treating symptoms is critical to keeping food-allergic children safe,” said Dr. B.J. Lanser, director of the Pediatric Food Allergy Program… read on >
High levels of exposure to the insecticide DDT in women seems to more than double the risk of autism in their children, new research suggests. The study looked for a link between the development of autism and two common environmental chemicals — DDT and PCBs. PCBs are chemicals that were used in many products, especially… read on >
Women whose mothers lived a long and healthy life have a good chance of doing the same, a new study suggests. A long-term study of about 22,000 postmenopausal women in the United States found that those whose mothers had lived to age 90 were 25 percent more likely to reach that milestone without suffering serious… read on >
Many kids struggle with math — and for a number of reasons. Knowing when to be concerned will allow you to get your child study help early on, which is important because research shows that young children who have difficulty with math typically will continue to struggle as they get older. Signs of math difficulties… read on >
