preview

Effects Of Caffeine On Brain Development

Good Essays

Kasie Bowermaster
Due: 11/24/14
Effects of Caffeine on Brain Development
The daily consumption and reliance on caffeine in the United States is increasing exponentially. Although many studies have demonstrated the negative effects caffeine imposes on the human body and brain development, there has been no notable decrease in society’s caffeine intake. A vast majority of the publicity that caffeine receives is based on the positive indicators that it can reduce the risks of other health factors. Caffeine is a psychostimulant drug that affects not only the human body postnatally but also the fetal brain during development. Consumption of caffeine includes variety of beverages and foods that are ingested daily such as coffee flavored products, tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and soft drinks. Research is being furthered on the negative implications of the consumption of caffeine on fetal brain development. Outcomes after birth may result in characteristics of “low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and miscarriage” (Mioranzza et al., 2014). Research however has focused on the negative effects specifically in the central nervous system, examining the short term and long term effects on brain development. The effects include behavioral and chemical modifications and consequences induced by prenatal exposure of caffeine on the developing fetal brain. Much of the publicity caffeine receives is positive image that promotes its health benefits rather than risks. Despite

Get Access