2. Kristin Anderson Moore Lecture, Child Trends
Nov 5, 2014, Washington, D.C.
Jane Roskams, Ph.D. Executive Director Strategy and Alliances
Allen Institute for Brain Science

3. Brain Development, Trauma and Epigenetics – Plasticity as a Pathway to Hope

4. All human potential lies on a curve
birthweight, athletic ability, musical ability, IQ, EQ, age to walk, talk, read, do math, capacity for joy, etc, etc

5. Every brain is built like a community
-Cells (neurons) are the building blocks of different structures within the brain
Nerve fibres/tracts form the highways between them
Major critical regions are built first, then joined together, then specialized
Stimulation and activity moulds how strongly each pathway works
Glia control the brain’s environment – nutrition, clean-up, blood supply

6. As we learn, each cell in our brain grows new and stronger connections
Kurt Haas, UBC

7. Sequential periods of brain “development”
Not as OPEN and SHUT as we used to believe!!

8. Sensitive periods in early childhood brain development
Pre-school years
School years
High
Peer social skills
Language
Numbers, Symbols
Sensitivity
Habitual ways of responding
Vision
Emotional control
Hearing
Low 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Years

9. Imaging the learning brain
Mapping learning
5-20 yrs old

10. The complications of puberty!

11. Allen Institute for Brain Science:
Maps interconnectivity, identity and function of different brain circuits over time (mouse and human)
Ipsilateral
Bregma:
0.25mm
-0.25mm
-0.75mm
-1.25mm
-1.75mm
-2.25mm
-2.75mm
-3.25mm CP TH MB
Isocortex
Thalamus
Caudoputamen
Lydia Ng

12. Right now - in your brain, your own map is changing
The brain has a powerful ability to change, adapt, and rewire itself throughout life.
Individual neurons grow, and new ones are added to the active circuits
It changes how it uses its genetic code, in response to life experiences
Stimulation, nutrition, exercise, stress, all modify this growth rate of neurons

13. Brain circuitry changes with activity

14. How is brain function disrupted by trauma?
Physical trauma disrupts neural circuit function, releases chemicals that can cause further loss of neurons
Trauma also causes glial changes in the brain (some acute and beneficial, some not – and chronic)
Some of these same changes occur in response to extreme stress, infection, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Glia impact the brain’s food supply, clean up, immune function, activity level, future ability to respond to signals
Neurogenesis (production of new neurons) is also altered
SOME PATHWAYS ARE MORE VULNERABLE THAN OTHERS

15. Individual responses to brain trauma vary widely
With age (children FAR BETTER at re-wiring and enhancing plasticity than adults)
With gender (depends on the type or age of trauma)
All individuals can improve with appropriate immediate and long-term intervention (therapy – occupational, physical, emotional, educational)
Successful response also depends a great deal on prior experience and state at the time trauma happens (vulnerability vs. resilience)
Each of us carries an epigenetic “signature” of our prior life’s experience that will provide clues to the likely success of a particular intervention, or select the optimal approach.

16. Epigenetics (“above or in addition to genetics”) stands at the center of modern medicine, and is the key to understanding our individuality and potential - because epigenetic changes, unlike DNA sequence can occur rapidly as a result of dietary and other environmental exposures (e.g., stress, drugs, physical activity, obesity, etc.).

17. Every cell packs its DNA differently
Explains how cells that all have the same DNA become different from each other Me

18. As your brain learns, matures and changes, so does its DNA structure

19. Epigenetic signatures are changed as a result of:
Stage of development
Trauma (physical, emotional, chemical)
Chronic Infection
Environmental chemicals
Drugs of abuse
Stress/affection
Exercise
Diet/nutrition
Aging
In early childhood development (ECD) and at all ages!!!

20. Why are identical twins not actually identical?
Asthma
Anxiety
Cancer
Bipolar

21. From ECD on up, environment makes a difference across the lifespan
Research has helped us to better understand how everything from the smallest cell to the more complex growing child is influenced by the environments in which they spend their time.
The Human Early Learning Partnership has developed the Total Environment Assessment Model of ECD (TEAM-ECD) as a way of understanding these environments, and the qualities within these environments, that play a significant role in influencing early development.
Social inequalities matter to health, especially those inequalities experienced early in life.
ECD matters to children, families and communities – on multiple outcomes, including children’s physical, social/emotional, and language/cognitive domains – and that early life experience has a determining influence on subsequent life chances and health through skills development, education, and occupational opportunities…….”
© 2014 Human Early Learning Partnership

22. The formula for a successful childhood is equally effective across the lifespan
ENVIRONMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
The environment closest to children is their immediate family or home environment. Increasingly, this environment can take many forms, but the features that determine whether the environment has a positive or negative impact on a child’s development is whether they are loved, cared for, believed in, and whether they have the basic necessities of life
© 2014 Human Early Learning Partnership

23. The formula for a successful childhood is equally effective across the lifespan
ENVIRONMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Children’s homes exist in the context of neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods can be more or less nurturing of children. Nurturing neighbourhoods are those where adults look out for and care for the children in the area, where the built and natural environment is friendly for children and families, and where programs and services exist
© 2014 Human Early Learning Partnership

24. The formula for a successful childhood is equally effective across the lifespan
ENVIRONMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Relational communities are not so much geographic as cultural, spiritual, and friendship or activity based. For many, these communities are a very important part of child raising and play a critical role in the network of care
© 2014 Human Early Learning Partnership

25. The formula for a successful childhood is equally effective across the lifespan
ENVIRONMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Children and families often participate in programs and services. The range, quality and accessibility of these is important in ensuring that children spend their time in nurturing and developmentally positive activities
© 2014 Human Early Learning Partnership

26. The formula for a successful childhood is equally effective across the lifespan
ENVIRONMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Regions can take many forms – municipalities, districts, provinces etc. These are defined by the policies and investments that are made by legislative authorities and can be more of less child and family friendly. Investments in built environment and decisions about zoning can have a profound effect on the livability of neighbourhoods. The kinds and programs and service are likewise important.
© 2014 Human Early Learning Partnership

27. The formula for a successful childhood is equally effective across the lifespan
ENVIRONMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
National or federal decisions have important implications for children and families. Policy and investment decisions affect the time parents have available to be with their children, the resources they have available to them to care for their children and the kinds of programs and services that exist to serve children and families
© 2014 Human Early Learning Partnership

28. The formula for a successful childhood is equally effective across the lifespan
ENVIRONMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Global environments exert a macro influence over all of us. The recent economic recession is evidence of this influence
© 2014 Human Early Learning Partnership

29. Understanding and unlocking human potential

30. Behavioral/intellectual environment can enhance plasticity, neurogenesis, and change epigenetic signatures
POSITIVE
Nutrition
Stimulation
(Sensory, other)
Exercise
Activity
Affection
NEGATIVE Stress
Inactivity
Obesity
Depression
Neglect
Trauma
Drugs of abuse

31. Now is the time for real hope

32. Understanding what controls the time windows of sensitivity will require us to combine functional imaging with an understanding of the individuality of each brain cell, and the key epigenetic variations that underlie this. This will guide how we best use the “appropriate” kind of intervention to shift the curve, and allow us to revisit and retrain the most vulnerable and critical pathways to support the well-being of every human being.
THANKS: Human Early Learning Partnership (UBC), Roskams Lab members, Brain Research Center and iCORD (UBC), our collaborators and all the agencies and foundations that have funded us. Allen Institute for Brain Science.

33. For more information…please go to BrainFacts.org