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Influence of prenatal and postnatal growth on intellectual functioning in school-aged children

Tippawan Pongcharoen1, Usha Ramakrishnan, Ann M DiGirolamo

  • 1Nutrition and Health Sciences Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|May 9, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Early childhood growth, particularly in the first year, significantly impacts intellectual development. Physical growth in infancy is linked to IQ, suggesting early development is crucial for cognitive outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Infant growth and size at birth are potential determinants of long-term intellectual functioning.
  • Understanding critical periods in early development is essential for optimizing cognitive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the influence of prenatal, infant, and late postnatal growth on intellectual functioning at age 9.
  • To identify critical windows for growth that impact cognitive development.

Main Methods:

  • A follow-up, cross-sectional study of 560 children in Thailand.
  • Assessed growth from birth to 9 years and intellectual functioning using standardized tests (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices).
  • Employed multiple-stage least squares analyses, adjusting for various child and household factors.

Main Results:

  • Physical growth up to 1 year of age was significantly associated with IQ, particularly length.
  • Early infancy growth (birth to 4 months) showed a consistent relationship with IQ for both length and weight.
  • Late postnatal growth (1 to 9 years) was not associated with intellectual functioning at age 9.

Conclusions:

  • Physical growth during early infancy is a critical factor influencing IQ at 9 years.
  • Early infancy represents a sensitive period for development, with lasting effects on cognitive abilities.
  • These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and supporting infant growth for optimal intellectual outcomes.
Abstract

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