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Published on: September 22, 2023
Breastfeeding, maternal education and cognitive function: a prospective study in twins
M Bartels1, C E M van Beijsterveldt, D I Boomsma
1Department of Biological Psychology, Room 2B-47, VU University, van der boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.bartels@psy.vu.nl
Breastfeeding positively impacts cognitive abilities in children, regardless of maternal education level. Breast-fed children, especially those with highly educated mothers, show significantly higher cognitive scores compared to formula-fed children of less educated mothers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
Background:
- Maternal education is linked to offspring cognitive performance.
- The influence of breastfeeding on cognitive development requires further investigation across different socioeconomic strata.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effect of breastfeeding on cognitive abilities in 12-year-old twins.
- To compare these effects across maternal educational attainment levels (high, middle, low).
- To assess if breastfeeding moderates the heritability of cognitive variation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of prospective breastfeeding data and cognitive ability scores for 6,569 children (12-year-old monozygotic and dizygotic twins).
- Comparison of cognitive scores based on breastfeeding status and maternal education.
- Assessment of heritability of cognitive scores and potential moderation by breastfeeding.
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was found between breastfeeding and cognitive ability.
- This effect was consistent across all maternal education levels.
- Breast-fed children of highly educated mothers scored 7.6 points higher on cognitive tests than formula-fed children of mothers with low education (effect size = 0.936).
- Cognitive differences were primarily attributed to additive genetic factors (80%), with no significant moderation by breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding confers cognitive benefits to offspring, independent of maternal education.
- While breastfeeding enhances cognitive scores, it does not alter the genetic heritability of cognition.
- Heritability of cognitive ability was slightly lower in children of mothers with middle-level education.
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