News in 2011
- Children of the 90s founder, Professor Jean Golding, named in New Year honours list 31 December 2011 Professor Jean Golding has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year honours list, on the eve of the 21st birthday of Children of 90s (also known as ALSPAC), the world-famous population study she founded in Bristol in 1991.
- Three new eczema genes discovered 25 December 2011 Researchers from Children of the 90s at the University of Bristol, in collaboration with 22 other studies from across the world, have discovered three new genetic variants associated with the skin condition eczema, a chronic inflammatory disease that afflicts millions of patients around the world.
- Babies born 32-36 weeks fare less well at school 8 December 2011 Only 71 per cent of babies born between 32 and 36 weeks are successful in key stage 1 (KS1) tests (defined as achieving at least level 2 in reading, writing and maths), compared to 79 per cent of babies born at full term (37-41 weeks), according to new research from Children of the 90s.
- Smoking in films encourages teenagers to take a drag 20 September 2011 New research from Children of the 90s shows that 15-year-olds who saw the most films depicting smoking were 73 per cent more likely to have tried a cigarette than those exposed to the least. They were also almost 50 per cent more likely to be a current smoker (i.e. to have smoked during the last week) than those least exposed.
- Seventy per cent of eight-month-olds consume too much salt 1 August 2011 Seventy per cent of eight-month-old babies have a salt intake higher than the recommended UK maximum level, due to being fed salty and processed foods like yeast extract, gravy, baked beans and tinned spaghetti.
- Children of depressed mothers more likely to develop problems 28 July 2011 Mothers who suffer from depression and anxiety, both during and after pregnancy, are more likely to have children who develop difficulties later in life because the earlier in life a child encounters depression, the more likely they are to be affected by it. The effects on children of depressive illnesses in the mother, have, to date, received little attention.
- Better monitoring of blood pressure in pregnancy needed 27 July 2011 Pre-eclampsia, which can lead to stillbirths, premature births, low-birth-weight babies and, in extreme cases, the death of the mother, is generally considered to be a unique condition in pregnancy. According to new research from Children of the 90s, by defining pre-eclampsia instead as the extreme end of blood-pressure (BP) risk in pregnancy, more women who are at risk could be identified.
- Babies weaned on home-cooked fruit and veg more likely to eat ‘5 a day’ as children 20 July 2011 Babies weaned on home-cooked fruit and vegetables are more likely to eat fruit and vegetables as children, according to recent research using data from the Bristol-based Children of the 90s study.
- Are worms ticklish? A Bristol student has the answer! 4 July 2011 Bristol student Suzi Gage is one of the winners of I’m a Scientist, Get Me Out of Here!, an X Factor-style competition for scientists, where school children aged 13 to 18 are the judges.
- All TV and no talking makes Jack a dull boy 30 June 2011 Children whose parents encourage early communication are better at talking by the age of two and fare better when they start school. By encouraging reading, talking and playing, providing a range of books and toys, visiting a library, keeping TV time to a minimum and taking their child to preschool, parents can dramatically improve their child’s language skills and readiness for school.
- High pregnancy weight gain can lead to long-term obesity 18 May 2011 Gaining more than the recommended weight during pregnancy can put women at increased risk of becoming obese and developing related health problems, including high blood pressure, later in life.
- Children of the 90s: 20 years old today! 1 April 2011 Children of the 90s has been awarded £6m to continue its vital research into the health and well-being of thousands of young people and their parents in and around Bristol.
- A jog a day keeps osteoporosis away 28 March 2011 A short burst of vigorous physical activity is important for building bones in children.
- Depression following Miscarriage 3 March 2011 Depression following a miscarriage can continue, even after a healthy birth.
- Junk Food Diets in Early Childhood May Lower IQ 8 February 2011 A diet high in fats, sugars and processed foods at the age of three is associated with a lower IQ at the age of 8.