Smoking while pregnant can lead to the development of learning disabilities in children

By Staff Writer

According to research from the University of Alabama, the use of nicotine during pregnancy could be the cause of behavioral problems in children.

The study shows that exposure to nicotine leads to a decrease in adult stem cells and changes within the hippocampus, which controls memory, learning and spatial navigation. Researchers say that adult brain cells normally continue to divide throughout a person's lifetime. However, when exposed to nicotine, they found a decrease in the number of new cells that were produced.

They added that without these newborn cells being introduced into the circuitry of the hippocampus, the neural pathways which are critical to learning are disrupted. Furthermore, these problems could result in cognitive deficits, learning difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and an increased predisposition to drug abuse.

Many programs for troubled youth and boarding schools can help individuals who suffer academic under-achievement while being diagnosed with learning disabilities, such as ADHD. These educational opportunities are designed to help children succeed in the classroom, as well as in life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates of ADHD diagnosis increased an average of 5.5 percent per year between 2003 and 2007.