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ERIC Number: EJ1487907
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0020-7187
EISSN: EISSN-1878-4658
Available Date: 2024-07-16
Effects of Breastfeeding on Cognitive Abilities at 4 Years Old: Cohort Study
International Journal of Early Childhood, v57 n1 p255-277 2025
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.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Spain
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Research Group in Nutrition and Mental Health (NUTRISAM), Tarragona, Spain; 2Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Research Center for Behavioral Assessment (CRAMC), Tarragona, Spain; 3Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Pere Virgili Institute for Health Research (IISPV), Reus, Spain; 4Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Serra Húnter Fellow, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, Tarragona, Spain