Jorge Cuartas

In early life, we develop key physical and cognitive skills, things like recognizing words or grasping objects.

Hitting these developmental milestones at the right time influences outcomes later in life, from mental health to economic success.

An analysis of nearly 20,000 kids published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry suggests that extreme heat can harm this development.

Jorge Cuartas is a researcher at NYU.

He led the study.

Kids from lower income households were especially impacted by heat, suggesting that things like air conditioning can help keep kids on track.

Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.