The effect of living environment on developmental disorders in cold regions

Abstract

Developmental disorders (DDs) are a kind of chronic maladies, which can cause serious irreversible detriment to children's physical and mental health. It is predominantly regulated by the interaction of environment and heredity. Cold regions are mainly located in the high latitudes of China. Their living environment is characterized by frequent cold wave, huge temperature difference, severe air pollution, high calorie diet, less exercise, smoking, drinking, etc. In recent years, substantial advances have been made in studies of the correlation between the living environment features in cold regions and the DDs. Accordingly, this article reviews the impact of the peculiar living environment of cold regions on DDs, with a view to provide fresh prevention strategies for reducing the morbidity of DDs in China cold regions by ameliorating living environment.