Research Links Poverty and Stress in Children with Brain Impairment

A recent article by Rob Stein in the Washington Post notes that "Children raised in poverty suffer many ill effects: They often have health problems and tend to struggle in school, which can create a cycle of poverty across generations." New research is providing clues to explain how childhood poverty translates into dimmer chances of success: "Chronic stress from growing up poor appears to have a direct impact on the brain, leaving children with impairment in at least one key area --working memory."