Researchers in Spain looked at 1298 children aged 6-11 years from six European country-specific birth cohorts (United Kingdom, France, Spain, Greece, Lithuania and Norway) and compared levels of exposure to different environmental toxins during pregnancy as well as early childhood  with levels of children’s “fluid intelligence”, which is the ability to solve reasoning problems and  “working memory” – the ability to retain new information while it is needed in the short term. 

Fetal development and early childhood are considered periods of vulnerability in life  because at these early stages of life, the brain is not yet fully developed to defend against environmental chemicals and is particularly sensitive to toxicity, even at low levels that do not necessarily pose a risk to a healthy adult mature brain.

Findings:

One common denominator was found strongly associated with better scores in both fluid intelligence and working memory:  this was eating organic food.  The reason might be that organic diets have lower levels of pesticides ( many of which are known neuro toxins) and are richer than fast food diets in nutrients necessary for the brain, such as fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, which together may enhance cognitive function in childhood,

I will point out that I would assume that the cognitive decline for someone eating non organic food in the US  might be higher than what this study found,  since the US allows pesticides to be used that are banned in Europe.

On the other side of the spectrum, lower working memory was associated with;

⁃ Fast food intake

⁃ House crowding ( often an indicator of the family's economic status)

⁃ Environmental tobacco smoke during childhood

• exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) indoors ( living near high traffic areas, exposure to fires)

What does this mean? Can you do anything to helo boost your child’s cognitive health?

There are a couple of things to consider.

1. Timing: There is no doubt that fetal development and early childhood are periods of susceptibility in life. This means it is periods when we are more vulnerable to chemicals. In childhood, the brain is not yet fully developed for efficient protection against environmental chemicals and is particularly sensitive to toxicity, even at low levels. It does not necessarily pose a risk to a healthy mature brain. Many studies are based on adults, not children, and the effects of many chemicals can vary A LOT depending on the age of exposure. This is a fact.

2. The role of social economic class: Generally, eating an organic diet is associated with a higher income and social economic class. Eating junk food, being exposed to higher levels of air pollution and smoke are, sadly, often more likely in lower social economic classes. While only mentioned in the study, there is no doubt that this could also be a contributor to the results as children in higher social economic classes likely have access to more education and neural stimulus at an early age. As with all things environmental health related very few things are black or white there are many contributing factors usually at play. However, education is key and I do believe even lower social economic classes can also benefit from this type of study as there are things they can do to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals: closing windows during high peak traffic times if they live near a highway, dusting often, not smoking near pregnant women or young children, and maybe starting a small home garden or if its available a community garden (and not using pesticides) are sometimes possibilities that can go a long way.

If it is within your means, what can you do?

1. Eat more organic food: especially pregnancy and early childhood. If eating 100% organic is not feasible, follow these tips:

• Focus on eating organic fruits, vegetables ( EWG’s dirty dozen list is a great start of which produce to focus on) protein and dairy product

• Consider buying into a CSA- these often deliver to your house and are cheaper than buying organics at the supermarket. CSA (CSA Stands for Community Supported Agriculture.)CSA allows city residents to have direct access to high quality, fresh produce grown locally by regional farmers. When you become a member of a CSA, you're purchasing a “share” of vegetables from a regional farmer.)

• . If you have the space consider a home garden

• Additionally companies like Thrive Market online, Costco, Trader Joes and 365 offer better priced organic foods.

Beyond eating more organic food exposure to PM2.5 pollution 

2. If you live near high traffic areas or near wildfires consider investing jn an air filter.  While a high quality HEPA filter will remove a large portion of PM 2.5 - you also ideally need a good amount of carbon filtration to remove accompanying gases from these pollution sources.   Many well known HEPA filters are amazing at removing allergens and even particulate matter but only have under 2 lbs of carbon which doesn’t do the job completely .   Look for 8lbs-15 lbs for best results.

Additionally keep home sealed during peak bad air quality times and switch out your ac filters often ( you might opt for a ….. during wildfire season. It filters more pn2.5 particles but also makes your ac work harder)

Worth mentioning in this The American Academy of Pediatrics study,   Organic Foods: Health and Environmental Advantages and Disadvantages" ,  one study is mentioned where children switched to an organic diet for 5 days.  After only 5 days, the levels of pesticides in their bodies dropped to almost undectectible levels. 

Source

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749121009866

pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/10/15/peds.2012-2579.abstract