Editorial: Influence of diet and maternal environment on neuropsychological development early in life

The prenatal and perinatal environment, along with the eating habits of early life, may shape the neuropsychological developmental trajectories of infants and future adolescents (1). Epidemiology shows that the number of people worldwide featuring neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), which include ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral disorders, has increased over the past decade (2). Taking action on modifiable factors could have far-reaching effects on public health practice and policy development. Data from a recent meta-analysis (3) found a median prevalence per 1,000 people for any NDD of 7.6 (95%CI 7.5–7.7), 11.3 (11.7–12.0) for neurological disorders, and 3.2 (95%CI 3.1–3.3) for mental conditions such as ADHD. In this context, this Research Topic aimed to add knowledge to the understanding of the composite network of direct and indirect environmental effects on the neuropsychological health of children and adolescents. The baseline assumption is that different and complex environmental dimensions, including maternal environment, physical and chemical environment (e.g., from exposure to specific pollutants to exposure to multiple and possibly interacting substances) (4–6), socioeconomic environment (e.g., education, social support, stress, work environment, and access to health care), and living environment (e.g., maternal and fetal diet, housing conditions, green space, and exposure to noise and light) (1, 7) are among the modifiable factors within the exposome still under study.