Pediatricians have long known that early experiences like responsive, nurturing relationships with caregivers and sound nutrition are important for a child’s brain development. Now, researchers are learning more about how these early influences can impact a child’s immune, metabolic, and cardiovascular systems as they get older.

Here & Now‘s Deepa Fernandes talks with Dr. Jack Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

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