Post by Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa (NNIA)

What does the evidence say about supporting optimal infant neurodevelopment? The first two years of life are one of the most critical windows in human development. With brain weight tripling by age two, early nutrition has a profound and lasting impact on cognitive, motor, and socio-emotional outcomes. Here's what the latest research tells us: 🔬 Bioactive components in human milk — including human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), microRNAs, and stem cells — are emerging as key players in brain development, gene regulation, and neural signalling. 🧠 Specific HMO structures — particularly sialylated and fucosylated types — appear to support cognition and memory by modulating key developmental pathways and may even cross the blood–brain barrier. 🌍 The global picture is urgent — around 250 million children are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential due to stunting and poverty, making evidence-based early feeding guidance more critical than ever. We've pulled the evidence together, so you don't have to. The NNIA's latest newsletter brings together the current evidence to help healthcare professionals translate these insights into practice. 📖 Read the full newsletter here → https://lnkd.in/dRDPdyxp Follow us on LinkedIn or register with the NNIA https://lnkd.in/dmurmwB5 to access resources, CPD activities, and more.