1. Brain Development and its Influence on Human Development
Joint Special Session, OAS
Washington, DC
Brain Development and its Influence on Human Development
This presentation was given on February 24, 2010.
By J. Fraser Mustard *
Alfredo Tinajero
The Founders’ Network
* Founding President, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
February 24, 2010

2. Human Development Nature Nurture Genes Epigenetics Stimulation
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Nature Nurture
Genes Epigenetics Stimulation
and Nutrition
Gene Function
Neurobiological
Pathways
Physical Mental Learning
Health Health

3. need new number
Epigenetics
Epigenetics is the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing the function of normal genes [all the 100 billion neurons in your head have the same DNA].

4. What is experience?
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The stimuli that you encounter both pre- and post-natally as well as in later stages differentiate neuron function.
Examples: sound, touch, vision, smell, food, thoughts, drugs, injury, disease, physical activity, etc.
Experience begins in utero that effects the differentiation and function of the neurons in the brain.
Experience that affects brain development in the early years of life include the neural pathways that relate to sound, touch, vision, smell, thoughts, drugs, injury, and disease. Obviously, food (nutrition) is crucial for the development of neurons. Adequate nutrition without the other experiences will not lead to full development of the architecture of the brain.
Kolb, U Lethbridge

5. Health(physical and mental) Learning (literacy) Behaviour
03-080
Experience-Based Brain Development in the early years of life sets neurological and biological pathways throughout life that affect:
Health(physical and mental)
The exponential growth in knowledge from the neurosciences about the development of the brain and related biological pathways has provided clear evidence as to how experience in early life affects the development of the brain and biological pathways. Experience-based brain development in the early years of life sets neurological and biological pathways that affect, throughout life, health [physical and mental], learning (literacy) and behaviour. Thus, experience in the early years of life can set trajectories that affect health, well-being and competence for life.
Learning (literacy)
Behaviour

6. Early Human Development
Literacy & Health

7. Early Child Development and Language
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Early Child Development and Language
Starts early – first 7 months – neurons differentiate language sounds (e.g. English, Japanese)
Sets capability for mastering
multiple languages in early life
Sets literacy, language and learning trajectory for the second and third stages of development

8. Literacy Levels for the Population Ages 16 to 65 – USA
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Literacy Levels for the Population Ages 16 to 65 – USA
Prose
Document
Quantitative
Percent
The United States Department of Education has replicated the OECD studies. This slide is adapted from Adult Literacy in America: A First Look at the Findings of the National Adult Literacy Survey. U.S. Department of Education The results are similar to the OECD studies of literacy in the United States and other developed countries. In developed countries, nearly 50% of the U.S. population is at Levels 1 and 2 (low) and about 5% are at Level 5 (high).
Low
High
Level
NALS, p. 17, 2002

9. 05-173
Literacy Levels (Quantitative) and Physical, Mental or Other Health Conditions – USA
Health Problems
Mental or Emotional Problems
Long-term Illness
Percent
This slide is also based on the report from the recent U.S. assessment (Adult Literacy in America: A First Look at the Findings of the National Adult Literacy Survey. U.S. Department of Education. 2002) shows the competence of the adult population in literacy and the burden of physical and mental health problems. In terms of the literacy assessments, Level 1 is low and Level 5 is high. There is a gradient in health status when the data are plotted against the level of literacy competence of the population.
The OECD data on developed countries shows a significant correlation between levels of literacy and life expectancy. It may be because the brain pathways that affect language and literacy have some link to the LHPA (stress) pathways that affect behaviour and health.
Level
NALS, p. 44, 2002

10. Percentages of Adults in Poverty, by Literacy Level – USA (Prose)
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Percentages of Adults in Poverty, by Literacy Level – USA (Prose)
Level
Percent
NALS, p. 61, 2002

11. Early Experience and Brain Architecture and Function
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Affects gene expression and neural pathways
Shapes emotion, regulates temperament and social development
Shapes perceptual and cognitive ability
Shapes physical and mental health and behaviour in adult life
Shapes physical activity (e.g. skiing, swimming, etc.)
Shapes language and literacy capability
This slide summarizes the effect of early experience on brain architecture and function.

12. Early Child Development
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Success by Ten
Early Child Development
Intervene early
Intervene often
Intervene effectively
Integrate with primary schools
Ludwig and Sawhill, Brookings Institution

13. Grade 3 Language Scores Argentina _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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Grade 3 Language Scores
Argentina _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Brazil _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Chile _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Cuba _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Mexico _ _ _ _ _ _ _
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
UNESCO, 1998

14. Community Polyclinics Pregnancy to Age 6
Developmental Health (pre and post natal)
Services provided by Community Polyclinics
Nutritional support
Child (Care) Stimulation (Puericultura)
Weekly Home Visits 14

15. Health and Language Scores90
350
330
310
290
270
250
230
Language Scores – UNESCO First Regional Study (1998) 70
Mortality Rate
Under One Mortality Rate (WHO, 1990) 50
4th grade Language (UNESCO, 1998) 30 10
Honduras
Dominican Rep.
Venezuela
Cuba
Chile
Argentina
Colombia
Paraguay
México
Brazil
Bolivia
Mustard, Tinajero, A., 2009

16. Association Between Preschool Attendance and Learning
Cuba
Percent enrolled in preschool
Reading Scores – 6th grade (UNESCO, 2008)
Chile
Uruguay
Costa Rica
Argentina
Peru
Colombia
Dominican R.
Paraguay
Mustard, Tinajero, A., 2009
100%
80%
90%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10% 5 25 20 15 10 35 30 45 40 50
% of preeschool enrolment - children ages 3-5 (UNESCO-LLECE, 2008)
% of children at Level IV – Reading Scores (high) - 6th grade (UNESCO, 2008)
Los Niveles III y IV corresponde a los niños con los resultados más altos.

17. Early Development Instrument (EDI)
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Early Development Instrument (EDI)
Kindergarten – Age 5
Physical health and well-being
Social knowledge and competence
Emotional health/maturity
Language and cognitive development
Communication skills and general
knowledge

18. CENDI - Monterrey, Mexico
EDI – Canada and
CENDI - Monterrey, Mexico
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% Low on % Low on
One Domain Two Domains
CENDI 18.5% %
(centre-based)
(Monterrey)
Canadian
Middle Class 25.9% %
(120,000)

19. Policies to Foster Human Capital
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Policies to Foster Human Capital
"We cannot afford to postpone investing in
children until they become adults nor can we
wait until they reach school - a time when it
may be too late to intervene."
Heckman, J., 2001
(Nobel Prize Economics, 2000)

20. WHO – Marmot Commission on Social Determinants of Health
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Chapter 5 – Equity from the Start
Recommendation 5.1:
WHO and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) set up an interagency mechanism to ensure policy coherence for early child development such that, across agencies, a comprehensive approach to early child development is acted on WHO, August 2008

21. The Commission recommends that:
Recommendation 5.2
The Commission recommends that:
Governments build universal coverage of a comprehensive package of quality early child development programmes and services for children, mothers, and other caregivers, regardless of ability to pay.
WHO, August 2008

22. 10-002
Of all the countries in the Americas, Cuba’s programs of nutrition and stimulation for rural and urban children provide the best example of equity for early human development in the Americas. We all can learn from what Cuba has accomplished.

23. To download this presentation, go to:
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To download this text, visit the Founders’ Network website at
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24. References
Mustard, J.F. Early child development and experience-based brain development: the scientific underpinnings of the importance of early child development. Washington: The Brookings Institution Available at:
Mustard, J.F. Early human development – Equity from the start – Latin America. Latin American Journal of Social Sciences, Childhood and Youth, vol. 7, #2, July-Dec Available at:
Mustard, J.F. The effects of nature and nurture on early human development and health, behaviour and learning. Presentation at the First International Symposium in Puebla, Mexico. January 27, Available at:
CP23764E