Getting Ahead of ADHD by Joel T. Nigg

Author:Joel T. Nigg [Joel T. Nigg]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781462531394
Publisher: Guilford Publications

LIFESTYLE FACTORS THAT MAY REDUCE THE DAMAGE DONE BY POLLUTANTS

Of course two children can be exposed to the same amounts and types of pollutants and not suffer the same damage. As noted earlier in this chapter, humans live in uncontrolled (versus lab) conditions, and many factors interact to affect their health. This knowledge gives us the power to apply some “antidotes” for pollutant exposure.

For example, both diet and stress appear to modify pollutant effects on children, giving us clues about how to protect them. Two studies in humans found that breastfeeding erased the effect of PCB exposure during gestation. This raises the possibility that sufficiently good early caregiving and nutrition can protect children’s brain development and attention from at least some of these pollution effects. Having sufficient dietary iron may protect to some degree against lead exposure.

Other research has shown that pollutant effects on the brain are magnified when animals are stressed, suggesting another route to reduce effects by managing stress (perhaps via exercise or mindfulness; see Chapter 7). These offsetting effects, seen in animals, are still a bit speculative in humans—but this may be where the hockey puck ends up.

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