Recent scientific research has uncovered a noteworthy connection between the hand people write with and the prevalence of certain neurological and developmental disorders. By reexamining multiple meta-analyses, researchers suggest that left-handedness and mixed-handedness may be associated with language-related challenges such as dyslexia.
Dr. Julian Packheiser of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany explained, “We suspected that left- and mixed-handedness could be linked to disorders involving language symptoms. Since both language and handedness are predominantly controlled by one side of the brain, it makes sense that their development and associated disorders might be connected.”
The study found a statistically significant association between left- and mixed-handed individuals and dyslexia, a learning difficulty characterized by problems with reading and spelling. Furthermore, higher rates of autism and schizophrenia were also observed among people with these hand preferences, alongside a potential increase in certain early-life diseases. While the specific causes behind these patterns remain uncertain, the suggestion that hand preference relates to dyslexia dates back nearly a century.
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Genetic research offers fresh insights, pointing to the role of cilia—microscopic cellular structures crucial in establishing left-right asymmetry during embryonic development—in brain development. A 2023 study noted that several genes linked to dyslexia are active in cilia, which supports the hypothesis that shared developmental processes may affect both brain structure and dyslexia risk. Since handedness is also connected to brain asymmetry, altered brain structure could potentially link handedness with dyslexia.
Nevertheless, these findings are yet to be conclusively confirmed, and the scientific community continues to debate the strength and nature of any genetic or biological connections between handedness and dyslexia.
Dyslexia remains a common learning difficulty, affecting around one in ten people in the UK. Defined by the NHS as a ‘specific learning disability,’ dyslexia primarily impacts reading, writing, and spelling abilities without affecting overall intelligence. It usually becomes apparent during early schooling years.
Recognizing possible signs of dyslexia early can be crucial in providing effective support to those affected.
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