A recent Study revealed that Children who do not get the full amount of Sleep may suffer from cognitive problems more.

The study, conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, found that children who slept less than nine hours a night were more likely to develop cognitive difficulties.

The researchers said that these children were more likely to have mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, as well as impulsive behaviors.

The results of the study were published in the journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. It was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The data was collected from more than 8,300 children between the ages of 9 and 10. These children were enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.

The researchers reached the conclusions after analyzing medical records, MRI scans, and surveys until the children were 11 and 12 years old.

Professor Zhi Wang, of the research, said: "We found that children who did not sleep enough, less than nine hours per night, at the start of the study had less gray matter or smaller volume in certain areas of the brain responsible for attention, memory, and inhibition control compared to those who did not sleep enough." those who follow healthy sleep habits.

Wang added that there are concerns about "long-term damage" from not getting enough sleep.

The study is noteworthy because it is one of the first to demonstrate a single set of potential long-term effects of poor sleep on neurodevelopment.

While the work was important, Professor Wang cautioned: "Additional studies are needed to confirm our findings and see if any interventions can improve sleep habits and reverse neurological deficits."

Along with Professor Wang, Professor Powers from the University of Maryland added: "This is an important study result that indicates the importance of conducting long-term studies of the developing child's brain. Sleep is often overlooked during busy childhood days filled with homework and extracurricular activities."

Meanwhile, another study also looked at another area of ​​children's health - autism.

A team of researchers from the University of Texas Medical School investigated how the brain evolved. Their research is a key window into insight into how autism occurs.

"There are many, what we will call, single processing units arranged horizontally in the neocortex. The more surface area you have, the more of these processing units you can accommodate," Professor Vitas Pankitas said in a statement.

Associate Professor Jigang Si explained: “One of the most studied genetic causes of intellectual disability is a mutation in the gene that was originally called LIS1. This genetic mutation will result in a smooth brain, which is associated with intellectual disability. One typical observation is that a patient’s neocortex is thicker. There are also very recent studies that identify common autistic brain differences that involve abnormally thick regions of the neocortex in these individuals."

The professors explained that the key lies in the convergence of the cells when the child is in the embryonic stage of its development.