Effects of Breastfeeding on Cognitive Abilities at 4 Years Old: Cohort Study.
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| Title: | Effects of Breastfeeding on Cognitive Abilities at 4 Years Old: Cohort Study. |
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| Authors: | Vargas-Pérez, Susana1,2 (AUTHOR), Hernández-Martínez, Carmen1,2 (AUTHOR), Voltas, Núria1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Morales-Hidalgo, Paula1,2 (AUTHOR), Canals, Josefa1,2,4 (AUTHOR), Arija, Victoria1,4 (AUTHOR) victoria.arija@urv.cat |
| Source: | International Journal of Early Childhood. Apr2025, Vol. 57 Issue 1, p255-277. 23p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Cognitive psychology, *Cognitive development, *Intelligence levels, Public health, Executive function |
| Abstract (English): | Human breast milk dynamically adapts to meet the needs of healthy neurodevelopment. While a great deal of research has examined the relationship between breastfeeding, infant cognitive development and IQ, findings are inconclusive when potential confounders are adjusted for. This raises questions about the various ways in which breastfeeding and other crucial factors can impact on infant IQ and cognitive abilities. The main aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between breastfeeding and child IQ and cognitive abilities after adjusting for sociodemographic, perinatal and postnatal variables. The participants were 613 boys and girls aged 4–5 years old from two cohort studies carried out in Tarragona, Spain. IQ and cognitive abilities were assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV (WPPSI-IV). Sociodemographic, prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors were collected. Descriptive analyses compared mother and infant characteristics by breastfeeding categories using Chi-squared and ANOVA tests. Regression models explored associations between breastfeeding duration and WPPSI-IV indexes. Breastfeeding from 1 to 8 months was related to higher scores on the Full-Scale IQ (b = 3.909, p = 0.035) and Working Memory Index (b = 3.757, p = 0.044), Non-Verbal Index (b = 4.184, p = 0.029), Cognitive Proficiency Index (b = 4.015, p = 0.038) at 4–5 years old, even after adjusting for the mother's IQ and mother-infant attachment difficulties. Our study emphasizes the numerous advantages of breastfeeding and underscores the importance of infants being breastfed through healthcare and health policies. Advocating breastfeeding for the first six months of life is crucial for enhancing lifelong well-being and cognitive development in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (Spanish): | Resumen: La leche materna humana se adapta dinámicamente para satisfacer las necesidades de un neurodesarrollo saludable. Aunque se ha investigado extensamente la relación entre la lactancia materna, el desarrollo cognitive infantil y el coeficiente intelectual (CI), los resultados son inconclusos cuando se ajustan por posibles factores de confusión. Esto plantea interrogantes sobre las diversas maneras en que la lactancia materna y otros factores cruciales pueden influir en el CI y las habilidades cognitivas de los lactantes. El objetivo principal de este studio fue analizar la relación entre la lactancia materna y el CI infantil y las habilidades cognitivas, después de ajustar por variables sociodemográficas, perinatales y postnatales. Los participantes fueron 613 niños y niñas de 4 a 5 años de edad, provenientes de dos estudios de cohorte realizados en Tarragona, España. El CI y las habilidades cognitivas se evaluaron utilizando la Escala de Inteligencia de Wechsler para Preescolar y Primaria-IV (WPPSI-IV). Se obtuvo información sobre factores sociodemográficos e información del periodo prenatal, perinatal y postnatal. Las características descriptivas de la madre y del infante según las categorías de lactancia materna se compararon mediante pruebas de Chi-cuadrado y ANOVA. Las asociaciones entre la duración de la lactancia materna y los índices de la WPPSI-IV se exploraron mediante modelos de regresión. La lactancia materna de 1 a 8 meses se relacionó con puntuaciones más altas en el CI Total (b = 3.909, P = 0.035) y el Índice de Memoria de Trabajo (b = 3.757, P = 0.044), el Índice No Verbal (b = 4.184, P = 0.029), el Índice de Competencia Cognitiva (b = 4.015, P = 0.038) a los 4-5 años de edad, incluso después de ajustar por el CI de la madre y las dificultades de apego madre-infante. Nuestro estudio enfatiza las numerosas ventajas de la lactancia materna y subraya la importancia de promover la lactancia materna a través de políticas de salud. Promover la lactancia maternal durante los primeros seis meses de vida es crucial para mejorar el bienestar y el desarrollo cognitivo a lo largo de la vida en los niños. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (French): | Résumé: Le lait maternel humain s'adapte dynamiquement pour répondre aux besoins d'un neurodéveloppement sain. Bien qu'un grand nombre de recherches aient examiné la relation entre l'allaitement, le développement cognitif des nourrissons et le QI, les résultats sont peu concluants lorsque les potentiels facteurs de confusion sont pris en compte. Cela soulève des questions sur les différentes façons dont l'allaitement et d'autres facteurs cruciaux peuvent avoir un impact sur le QI et les capacités cognitives des nourrissons. L'objectif principal de cette étude était d'analyser la relation entre l'allaitement et le QI ainsi que les capacités cognitives des enfants après ajustement pour les variables sociodémographiques, périnatales et postnatales. Les participants étaient 613 garçons et filles âgés de 4 à 5 ans provenant de deux études de cohorte réalisées à Tarragone, Espagne. Le QI et les capacités cognitives ont été évalués à l'aide de l'Échelle d'intelligence de Wechsler pour la période préscolaire et primaire-IV (WPPSI-IV). Les facteurs sociodémographiques, prénatals, périnatals et postnataux ont été collectés. Des analyses descriptives ont comparé les caractéristiques des mères et des nourrissons selon les catégories d'allaitement en utilisant des tests du Chi carré et des tests ANOVA. Des modèles de régression ont exploré les associations entre la durée de l'allaitement et les indices WPPSI-IV. L'allaitement de 1 à 8 mois était lié à des scores plus élevés sur le QI global (b = 3.909, P = 0.035) et l'Indice de Mémoire de Travail (b = 3.757, P = 0.044), l'Indice Non-Verbal (b = 4.184, P = 0.029), l'Indice de Compétence Cognitive (b = 4.015, P = 0.038) à 4–5 ans, même après ajustement pour le QI de la mère et les difficultés d'attachement mère-enfant. Notre étude met en évidence les nombreux avantages de l'allaitement et souligne l'importance des politiques de santé promouvant l'allaitement maternel. Promouvoir l'allaitement pendant les six premiers mois de la vie est crucial pour améliorer le bien-être tout au long de la vie et le développement cognitif des enfants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Abstract: | Human breast milk dynamically adapts to meet the needs of healthy neurodevelopment. While a great deal of research has examined the relationship between breastfeeding, infant cognitive development and IQ, findings are inconclusive when potential confounders are adjusted for. This raises questions about the various ways in which breastfeeding and other crucial factors can impact on infant IQ and cognitive abilities. The main aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between breastfeeding and child IQ and cognitive abilities after adjusting for sociodemographic, perinatal and postnatal variables. The participants were 613 boys and girls aged 4–5 years old from two cohort studies carried out in Tarragona, Spain. IQ and cognitive abilities were assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV (WPPSI-IV). Sociodemographic, prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors were collected. Descriptive analyses compared mother and infant characteristics by breastfeeding categories using Chi-squared and ANOVA tests. Regression models explored associations between breastfeeding duration and WPPSI-IV indexes. Breastfeeding from 1 to 8 months was related to higher scores on the Full-Scale IQ (b = 3.909, p = 0.035) and Working Memory Index (b = 3.757, p = 0.044), Non-Verbal Index (b = 4.184, p = 0.029), Cognitive Proficiency Index (b = 4.015, p = 0.038) at 4–5 years old, even after adjusting for the mother's IQ and mother-infant attachment difficulties. Our study emphasizes the numerous advantages of breastfeeding and underscores the importance of infants being breastfed through healthcare and health policies. Advocating breastfeeding for the first six months of life is crucial for enhancing lifelong well-being and cognitive development in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00207187 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s13158-024-00396-z |
