Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that unhealthy nutrition and living in an unstructured home environment may negatively impact children's performance and the higher cognitive skills that govern memory, attention, and emotional regulation. The study indicated that children aged between 18 months and 2 years who consumed larger amounts of sugary snacks and processed foods were more likely to face issues in core components of executive functions, such as inhibition, working memory, and planning and organizing abilities.
Samantha Ewenskey, the study supervisor, stated: "Children begin to develop executive functions rapidly between the ages of 2 and 5, and we wanted to look at that period when parents were making crucial food decisions and the impact of that on children's cognitive abilities." According to "Nature" magazine, the study included nearly 300 families, and researchers began collecting data on children's eating habits, weight development, social-emotional skills, and family relationships starting from the sixth week after birth.
The study is notable for tracking children, as previous studies have examined the relationship between nutrition, family lifestyle, and cognitive skills in pre-adolescent children. The findings revealed a connection between the regular consumption of sugary snacks and processed foods and a decline in cognitive performance and behavior in children. Ewenskey noted: "We saw that greater consumption of these foods was linked to lower levels of certain indicators, including emotional regulation, inhibition, planning, and organization. Even at this early age, dietary intake may affect children's executive function at multiple levels."
