A5046772243- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Early Childhood Education and Development
- Family and Disability Support Research
- Child Development and Digital Technology
- Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Language Development and Disorders
- Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging
- Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Neonatal Health and Biochemistry
- Cancer Risks and Factors
- Education Systems and Policy
- Employment and Welfare Studies
University of Cambridge
2022-2024
Queen Mary University of London
2023-2024
University of Macau
2024
Birkbeck, University of London
2019-2023
King's College London
2015-2020
Chelsea Hospital
2011
Massachusetts General Hospital
2011
Background Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have co‐occurring symptoms of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) and/or anxiety. It is unclear whether these disorders arise from shared or distinct developmental pathways. We explored this question by testing the specificity early‐life (infant and toddler) predictors mid‐childhood ADHD anxiety compared to ASD symptoms. Methods Infants ( n = 104) at high low familial risk for took part in research assessments 7, 14, 24 38...
Almost 20% of infants with an older sibling autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit ASD themselves by age 3 years. The longer‐term outcomes high‐risk are less clear. We examined symptoms ASD, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) and anxiety, language, IQ, adaptive behaviour at 7 years in high‐ low‐risk children prospectively studied since the first year life. Clinical were compared between who met diagnostic criteria for (HR‐ASD‐7 group, n = 15), without (HR‐Non‐ASD‐7 24), control (LR 37)....
Impaired face processing is proposed to play a key role in the early development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and be an endophenotypic trait which indexes genetic risk for disorder. However, no published work has examined abilities from infancy into school-age years how they relate ASD symptoms individuals with or at high-risk ASD. In this novel study we investigated neural behavioural measures age 7 months again mid-childhood (age years) as well social-communication sensory siblings...
Infants in low-resource settings are at heightened risk for compromised cognitive development due to a multitude of environmental insults their surroundings. However, the onset adverse outcomes and trajectory these is not well understood. The aims present study were adapt Mullen Scales Early Learning (MSEL) use with infants rural area Gambia, examine first 24-months life assess association between performance physical growth. In Phase 1 this study, adapted MSEL was tested on 52 aged 9- (some...
Infants and children in low- middle-income countries are frequently exposed to a range of poverty-related risk factors, increasing their likelihood poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. There is need for culturally objective markers, which can be used study infants from birth, thereby enabling early identification ultimately intervention during critical time neurodevelopment.
Iron deficiency is among the leading risk factors for poor cognitive development. However, interventions targeting iron have had mixed results on outcomes. This may be due to previous focusing correction of anaemia in late infancy and early childhood, at which point long lasting neural impacts already established. We hypothesise that relationship between status development will observable first months life not recovered by 5 years age.
We examined older and younger adults' accuracy judging the health competence of faces. Accuracy differed significantly from chance varied with face age but not rater age. Health ratings were more accurate for than faces, reverse ratings. was greater low attractive Greater faces' paralleled by validity attractiveness looking as predictors their health. a positive expression competence. Although ability to recognize variations in cognitive is preserved adulthood, effects on different across...
Executive functions (EFs) in early childhood are predictors of later developmental outcomes and school readiness. Much the research on EFs their psychosocial correlates has been conducted high-income, minority world countries, which represent a small biased portion children globally. The aim this study is to examine among aged 3-5 years two African South Africa (SA) Gambia (GM), explore shared distinct these settings. SA sample (N = 243, 51.9% female) was recruited from low-income...
Abstract Functional brain network organization, measured by functional connectivity (FC), reflects key neurodevelopmental processes for healthy development. Early exposure to adversity, e.g. undernutrition, affects neurodevelopment, observable via disrupted FC, and leads poorer outcomes from preschool age onward. We assessed longitudinally the impact of early growth trajectories on developmental FC in a rural Gambian population 5 24 months. To investigate how these relate later childhood...
Functional brain network organization, measured by functional connectivity (FC), reflects key neurodevelopmental processes for healthy development. Early exposure to adversity, e.g. undernutrition, affects neurodevelopment, observable via disrupted FC, and leads poorer outcomes from preschool age onward. We assessed longitudinally the impact of early growth trajectories on developmental FC in a rural Gambian population 5 24 months. To investigate how these relate later childhood outcomes, we...
Abstract Autism sibling recurrence in prospective infant family history studies is ~20% at 3 years but systematic follow‐up to mid‐childhood rare. In population and clinical cohorts autism not recognized some children until school‐age or later. One hundred fifty‐nine infants with an older underwent research diagnostic assessments (6 12 (mean 9)). We report the rate compare developmental behavioral profiles those earlier versus later autism, who had, had not, received a community diagnosis....
Cognitive and adaptive behaviour abilities early in life provide important clinical prognostic information. We examined stability of such skills children at high familial risk for ASD who either met diagnostic criteria age 7 years (HR-ASD, n = 15) or did not (HR-non-ASD, 24) low-risk control (LR, 37), prospectively studied from infancy. For both HR groups, cognitive were consistently lower across time than those LR children. HR-ASD showed increasing difficulties over compared to children,...
<ns3:p>There is a scarcity of prospective longitudinal research targeted at early postnatal life which maps developmental pathways early-stage processing and brain specialisation in the context adversity. Follow up from infancy into one-five year age range key, as it constitutes critical gap between infant childhood studies. Availability portable neuroimaging (functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) electroencephalography (EEG)) has enabled access to rural settings increasing diversity...
There is substantial diversity within and between contexts globally in caregiving practices family composition, which may have implications for the early interaction's infants engage in. We draw on data from Brain Imaging Global Health (BRIGHT, www.globalfnirs.org/the-bright-project) project, longitudinally examined UK rural Gambia, West Africa. In The households are commonly characterized by multigenerational, frequently polygamous structures, which, part, reflected of caregivers a child...
There is a need of expanding infant mental health research to encompass diverse global populations. However, few measures appropriate for use from birth in cultural contexts exist. We present data rural Gambia and the UK using Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS). In Phase 1, scale was piloted The Gambia, highlighting great utility this setting. Adaptations included 1) additional explanation some items caregivers 2) omission where home environment necessitated do so. 2, NBAS...
There is a scarcity of prospective longitudinal research targeted at early postnatal life which maps developmental pathways early-stage processing and brain specialisation in the context adversity. Follow up from infancy into one-five year age range key, as it constitutes critical gap between infant childhood studies. Availability portable neuroimaging (functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) electroencephalography (EEG)) has enabled access to rural settings increasing diversity our...
Across cultures, imitation provides a crucial route to learning during infancy. However, neural predictors which would enable early identification of infants at risk suboptimal developmental outcomes are still rare. In this paper, we examine associations between ERP markers habituation and novelty detection measured 1 5 months infant age in the UK (
Functional brain network organization, measured by functional connectivity (FC), reflects key neurodevelopmental processes for healthy development. Early exposure to adversity, e.g. undernutrition, affects neurodevelopment, observable via disrupted FC, and leads poorer outcomes from preschool age onward. We assessed longitudinally the impact of early growth trajectories on developmental FC in a rural Gambian population 5 24 months. To investigate how these relate later childhood outcomes, we...
Abstract Cognitive control is a predictor of later‐life outcomes and may underpin higher order executive processes. The present study examines the development early cognitive during first 24‐month. We evaluated tablet‐based assessment among infants aged 18‐ also examined concurrent longitudinal associations between attentional disengagement, general skills control. Participants ( N = 60, 30 female) completed tablet‐task at 24‐month age. Attentional disengagement were assessed 5‐, 8‐, 12‐,...