NEUROLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDHOOD

Abstract

Neurological and psychic development is a continuous process that begins during the prenatal period. Several risk factors during pregnancy can negatively impact this development. These factors include maternal alcohol consumption, radiation exposure, drug use, congenital infections, and lack of supplementation or delay in starting folic acid supplementation. It is important to highlight that potentially harmful events that occur earlier during pregnancy increase the risk of causing more serious harm to the fetus. Neurodevelopment in childhood is a crucial field that impacts cognitive and emotional growth. This integrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge about factors that influence this development. Analyze and integrate scientific studies to understand the main determinants of neurological development in children, identifying gaps and future perspectives. An integrative review of the literature was carried out, covering electronic databases, selecting studies that investigate children's neurological development. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to ensure the relevance and quality of the articles. The results highlight genetic, environmental, and early experience factors that shape neurological development. Genetic factors, innate to the individual, contribute to shaping specific characteristics of neurological development. At the same time, the environment in which the child is exposed plays a crucial role, reflecting the importance of stimulation and favorable conditions from the first years of life. Discussions address practical implications for public health interventions and policies. This review highlights the complexity of children's neurological development, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary approaches and health promotion strategies from an early age.