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A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
Breastfeeding is associated with improved child cognitive development: a population-based cohort study
Maria A Quigley1, Christine Hockley, Claire Carson
1National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. maria.quigley@npeu.ox.ac.uk
The Journal of Pediatrics
|August 16, 2011
Summary
Breastfeeding is linked to better cognitive development in children. This benefit is especially pronounced in preterm infants, showing significant score increases in various cognitive tests.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Cognitive development is crucial for long-term outcomes.
- The impact of breastfeeding on cognitive development requires further investigation, particularly in diverse birth cohorts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between breastfeeding duration and cognitive development in term and preterm children.
- To quantify cognitive differences based on breastfeeding status.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the United Kingdom Millennium Cohort Study data.
- Stratification of children by gestational age: term (37-42 weeks) and preterm (28-36 weeks).
- Cognitive assessment at age 5 years using British Ability Scales (naming vocabulary, pattern construction, picture similarities).
Main Results:
- Cognitive scores across all subscales improved with longer breastfeeding duration.
- Adjusted analyses revealed significant cognitive score increases for breastfed children compared to never-breastfed children.
- Preterm children showed greater cognitive gains with breastfeeding, particularly in naming vocabulary and pattern construction.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding is associated with enhanced cognitive development in white, singleton UK children.
- The positive association between breastfeeding and cognitive development is more pronounced in preterm infants.
- Findings support breastfeeding as a beneficial factor for cognitive outcomes, especially for vulnerable preterm populations.
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