What's
going on in there? Understanding how children's brains develop, and how they
are affected by disorders like autism spectrum disorder and FASD
Public
conversation and 'brain art silent auction', at Station 20 West, Wednesday,
March 13th, 6:30-9 pm (talk at 7 pm)
Parents of young children often wonder what's going on
inside their heads, and how they can best help them develop. They may wonder, 'Should
we be holding flashcards over her crib, or playing her classical music? What
about exposing him to multiple languages? Does yelling at my child damage him?
How will I know if my baby has a neurological disorder, like autism spectrum
disorder, or FASD, and what can I do about it?'
While parents may be looking for instruction manuals or
parenting recipes for success, what we now understand, through research in
neuroscience and early childhood development, is that baby's brains develop
over time and multiple interactions.
The brain is a very complex system, subject to many factors
and influences, and a baby's brain changes every day,' says early childhood
researcher Nazeem Muhajarine.
'While the first three years of a child's life is a time of rapid brain
development, with sensitive periods ideal for the development of certain
skills, our brains remain malleable, and we are able to form new connections
throughout our lives.'
And this brain development happens automatically, as
children interact with people and things in the world around them. It isn't
through exposure to one particular activity that children's brains develop, but
through many different experiences in the early years. Children who have
neurological disorders have brains that develop differently, and they can
benefit from early diagnosis and treatment.
Muhajarine,
who leads a Healthy Children research program at the University of Saskatchewan,
will be joining colleagues Dr. Cordell Neudorf, Chief
Medical Health Officer for Saskatoon Health Region, and Ginny Lane, a cognitive
disability consultant with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, for an informal
public conversation on children's brain development as part of Brain Awareness
Week. This is a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress
and benefits of brain research.
They will focus on the role of all kinds of early
environments – at home, and in the community -- play in children's brain
development, and how we can better support children affected by
neurodevelopmental disorders such as FASD and autism spectrum disorder.
Local artists will have brain-related pieces for sale
through a silent auction, with the money donated to a local non-profit
organization. This event is organized by the Saskatchewan Neuroscience Network,
in partnership with NeuroDevNet, Saskatoon Health
Region, and others.
Saskatoon Health Region and the Saskatchewan Population
Health and Evaluation Research Unit, where Muhajarine's
research program is located, recently collaborated on the first ever child
health status report on the health and wellbeing of children and families in
Saskatoon Health Region (available at
http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/ps_public_health_pho_reports_publications_and_presentations.htm)
Muhajarine
is also part of NeuroDevNet, a national network of
excellence on early brain development. NeuroDevNet researchers
are studying ways to identify, treat and prevent neurological disorders such as
autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
They are also working extensively with patients affected by neurological
disorders, their families, and health services providers, so that they can
benefit from new understanding of how brains development, and how to best treat
and manage with these disorders.
Later in the week, kids can get in on the action by visiting
'Brain Blast: A passport into the brain' with their families. This open house
takes place Sunday, March 17 from 12 noon to 3 pm, Saskatoon City Hospital
Atrium, 701 Queen Street.
The Saskatoon City Hospital Atrium will be transformed into
a maze of stations highlighting the different brain areas and the
basics of brain function.
Visitors will receive a passport to take on their journey
through the stations that are run by enthusiastic University of Saskatchewan
graduate students with a neuroscience background, with prizes drawn for completed
passports. The virtual brain maze that includes the ever popular Brain Walk,
designed with various brain related activities for all ages. There
will also be a mock neuroscience lab, as well as short video presentations.
For more information, visit: http://www.usask.ca/snn/BAW/index.php
or our event on Facebook by searching 'Saskatoon Brain Awareness Week'
Contact for interviews:
Nazeem Muhajarine, PhD
Lead, Healthy Children research program
Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-7940 or 306-227-2982
Fleur Macqueen Smith, MA
Knowledge Transfer Manager
Healthy Children research program
Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-2957 or 306-230-4548