NEW DELHI– Exposure to lead during pregnancy and early childhood may impair memory retention in children, potentially affecting learning ability and cognitive development, according to a new study by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, U.S.
The study used a well-established cognitive test known as the delayed matching-to-sample task to assess memory performance in children aged 6 to 8, Xinhua news agency reported.
Applying a novel statistical model—the nonlinear modified power function—previously used in both animal and human studies, researchers found that even low levels of lead exposure significantly increased the rate at which children forgot information. The median blood lead level among participants was approximately 1.7 micrograms per deciliter.
The findings, published in Science Advances, indicate that even minimal exposure to lead can compromise essential cognitive functions during early childhood.
“There may be no more important a trait than the ability to form memories. Memories define who we are and how we learn,” said Dr. Robert Wright from the Department of Environmental Medicine at Mount Sinai. “This paper breaks new ground by showing how environmental chemicals can interfere with the rate of memory formation. Children with higher levels of blood lead forgot the test stimulus faster than those with low blood lead levels.”
Researchers say the study lays the groundwork for further investigation into how environmental toxins like lead may intersect with broader cognitive functions, including attention span, executive function, and reward processing.
The study also reinforces the urgency for policy interventions aimed at protecting children’s developing brains from environmental hazards before long-term or irreversible damage occurs. (Source: IANS)
