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Effect of exclusive breastfeeding on the development of children's cognitive function in the Krakow prospective birth

Wieslaw Jedrychowski1, Frederica Perera, Jeffrey Jankowski

  • 1Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland. myjedryc@cyf-kr.edu.pl

European Journal of Pediatrics
|June 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months significantly boosts children's cognitive development and intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. This benefit is sustained from infancy through preschool age, supporting WHO recommendations.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by the WHO for optimal infant health.
  • Previous studies suggest a link between breastfeeding and cognitive development, but long-term effects require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the long-term effects of exclusive breastfeeding on neurodevelopment over a 7-year period.
  • To determine if early cognitive gains in breastfed infants predict later cognitive trajectories.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study followed 468 term infants of non-smoking mothers for 7 years.
  • Cognitive function was assessed five times using psychometric tests from infancy to preschool age.
  • Longitudinal analysis used generalized estimating equations, controlling for maternal education, gender, parity, and pregnancy weight gain.

Main Results:

  • Children exclusively breastfed for >6 months showed an average IQ gain of 3.8 points compared to mixed-fed infants.
  • Benefits were observed even with shorter durations (3-6 months) of exclusive breastfeeding.
  • The IQ advantage gained in infancy was sustained through the preschool period.

Conclusions:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding, even for shorter durations, positively impacts children's cognitive development.
  • The findings support WHO recommendations for 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding.
  • Early cognitive benefits from breastfeeding are maintained throughout early childhood.

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