Zinc and cognitive development

Cognition is a field of thought processes by which an individual processes information through skills of perception, thinking, memory, learning and attention. Zinc deficiency may affect cognitive development by alterations in attention, activity, neuropsychological behavior and motor development. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of nutrition 2001-05, Vol.85 (S2), p.S139-S145
Main Authors: Bhatnagar, Shinjini, Taneja, Sunita
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Animal cognition
Animals
Attention
Behavior
Biological and medical sciences
Brain Chemistry
Brain research
Child
Child development
Child, Preschool
Cognition Disorders - etiology
Cognition Disorders - prevention & control
Cognitive development
Female
Haplorhini
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infants
Male
Medical sciences
Memory
Metabolic diseases
Metabolism
Models, Animal
Neonates
Neurogenesis
Neuropsychology
Nutrition research
Other nutritional diseases (malnutrition, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies...)
Weaning
Zinc
Zinc - administration & dosage
Zinc - deficiency
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Summary:Cognition is a field of thought processes by which an individual processes information through skills of perception, thinking, memory, learning and attention. Zinc deficiency may affect cognitive development by alterations in attention, activity, neuropsychological behavior and motor development. The exact mechanisms are not clear but it appears that zinc is essential for neurogenesis, neuronal migration, synaptogenesis and its deficiency could interfere with neurotransmission and subsequent neuropsychological behavior. Studies in animals show that zinc deficiency during the time of rapid brain growth, or during the juvenile and adolescent period affects cognitive development by decreasing activity, increasing emotional behavior, impairing memory and the capacity to learn. Evidence from human studies is limited. Low maternal intakes of zinc during pregnancy and lactation were found to be associated with less focused attention in neonates and decreased motor functions at 6 months of age. Zinc supplementation resulted in better motor development and more playfulness in low birth weight infants and increased vigorous and functional activity in infants and toddlers. In older school going children the data is controversial but there is some evidence of improved neuropsychological functions with zinc supplementation. Additional research is required to determine the exact biological mechanisms, the critical periods, the threshold of severity and the long-term effects of zinc deprivation on cognitive development.
ISSN:0007-1145
1475-2662
DOI:10.1079/BJN2000306