This episode was recorded at the 2019 RACP Congress in Auckland and deals with the profound influence that the first 1000 days of life have on lifelong health, wellbeing, behaviour and socioeconomic outcomes.

Professor Richie Poulton outlined the influential Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, which has followed over 1037 participants since 1972. All sorts of measures have been taken throughout the participants' lives, but Dr Poulton showed the incredible predictive power of one behavioural trait in particular: self-control.

Paediatrician Dr Johan Morreau revealed how such associations between childhood deprivation and behavioural outcomes might be explained by developmental neuroscience. And finally, public health physician Professor Susan Morton showed some evidence from the Growing Up in New Zealand Study which reveals the importance of social factors in protecting against poor outcomes.

Together, these speakers demonstrated that the consequences of childhood disadvantage are borne not just by individuals and families but by all of society. The lectures were framed by the launch of an RACP position statement on early childhood titled "The Importance of the Early Years" and another released last year on "Inequities in Child Health".

Guests
Professor Richie Poulton CNZM FRSNZ (Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Chief Science Advisor to the NZ Ministry of Social Development)
Dr Johan Morreau FRACP (Lakes District DHB, Brainwave Trust)
Professor Susan Morton FAFPHM (Director University of Auckland cross-faculty Centre for Longitudinal Research)

Production
Produced by Mic Cavazzini. Recording assistance in Auckland from Little Kong Productions. Music licensed from Epidemic Sound; 'Earthbound 3' by Joachim Nilsson; 'A Winter's Tale' by Magnus Ringblom; 'I Am Here Now' by Gunnar Johnsén. Image courtesy of Getty Images.

Please visit the RACP website for a transcript embedded with citations. Fellows of the College can claim CPD credits for listening and additional reading.