The Children of the 90s project is the world’s most detailed health study. For more than 30 years, the U.K.’s Millennium Cohort Study has closely followed the lives of 14,500 children born from 1991 to 1992. We rely on this massive research endeavor for key insights into numerous health-related topics. We are especially pleased by the coverage this year of the intersection of obesity, autism, and the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Now 35 years old, the project is both an expansive and unprecedented human experiment, and it exists inside of an even more pervasive, decades-long investigation into childhood health.
The Children of the 90s project focuses on understanding how children’s health evolves from infancy to adolescence. In fact, researchers have recently determined that as many as one in five young people has signs of fatty liver disease. Plus one in 40 might already have some liver scarring. These truly frightening figures are mainly a consequence of increasing rates of obesity and alcohol use among adolescents. The project’s results have played a historically crucial role in public health policy. They’ve helped foster a strong body of scientific literature, with thousands of papers across the globe citing the data.
Our research does this by looking beyond physical health. It investigates cognitive development through assessment of children’s working memory and inhibitory control, both critical skills for academic achievement. According to Dr. Karla Holmboe, one of the lead researchers on the project, figuring out when various cognitive skills occur is crucial.
“We need to know when different skills develop and we need to understand how individual children develop over time.” – Dr Karla Holmboe
To better evaluate these skills, researchers have employed brain-scanning technology and designed engaging puzzles and games tailored for young participants. These hands-on activities really help measure children’s capacity for sustained attention and impulse control, key traits for flourishing in a school-based setting.
“In a classroom, a child needs to be able to focus and not let their attention drift,” said Dr Holmboe.
The Children of the 90s project looks at dietary effects on social behavior. Initial results reveal that kids not having enough oily fish generally tend to be less sociable. Not only are they less nurturing toward their students, they’re more cruel to their colleagues. This inverted relationship highlights the critical role of nutrition during early life stages.
The project also follows the mothers of 300 participating children prospectively. These mothers have been participating in a somewhat meta-study — their own — since their infancy in the 1990s. All of these mothers have experienced MRI scans at various stages — six months, three years and five years. From this process, a full, 3-D picture of their neurological development emerges over time.
The incredible trove of data that has come from this pioneering effort has been extremely valuable for scientists worldwide. By making data accessible to researchers worldwide, the Children of the 90s project facilitates collaborative efforts to deepen understanding of childhood development and health.
Emily, one of the mothers who participated in the study, said that she was excited to be a part of this long-term research initiative.
“They love all the toys – they get free snacks. So I’ll continue coming just as long as they want to.” – Emily
The study’s innovative approach includes testing children’s cognitive abilities through playful interactions. By involving young children in fun and stimulating activities, researchers are able to collect vital information about their growth and development.
Dr. Holmboe goes on to talk about the importance of working memory in learning.
“Working memory is when we need to keep a little bit of information in our head to solve a problem or do a task – like a puzzle, or even just remembering where we put something two minutes ago,” she explained. “For children, you can imagine we need these skills when we learn maths or learn to read.”
Fertility by education level is one of many trends soon to be analyzed from ongoing data collection by the Children of the 90s project. Its stated aim is to deliver essential evidence that will improve children’s physical well-being and academic success. Conducted over 20 years, this long-term cohort study offers important details about individual growth trajectories. It further reveals national trends in society that pose a considerable threat to child health.
