A new study delves into the genetic underpinnings of language development in early childhood and its implications for later cognitive abilities and neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and ASD. By analyzing vocabulary data from over 17,000 children across different languages, the study uncovers how genetics influences word production and comprehension from infancy to toddlerhood, revealing that vocabulary size is not only a marker of early language skills but also predictive of future literacy, cognition, and potential neurodevelopmental challenges.