Breastfeeding and brain structure in adolescence
Salomi Kafouri1, Michael Kramer, Gabriel Leonard
1Rotman Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
International Journal of Epidemiology
|November 24, 2012
Summary
Exclusive breastfeeding duration is linked to parietal cortex thickness in adolescents. This finding supports breastfeeding
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- General intelligence is associated with specific brain structures.
- Understanding factors influencing cognitive development is crucial.
- Previous research suggests a link between early life experiences and brain structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the structure of cortical regions related to general intelligence.
- To determine if breastfeeding predicts cortical thickness in adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Adolescents (n=571, aged 12-18) from the Saguenay Youth Study were analyzed.
- Hierarchical linear modeling assessed breastfeeding as a predictor of cortical thickness, controlling for covariates.
- Cortical regions were identified via meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies on general intelligence.
Main Results:
- Duration of exclusive breastfeeding showed a significant association with cortical thickness in the superior and inferior parietal lobules.
- The study replicated the previously observed association between breastfeeding and general intelligence.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding duration is associated with variations in parietal cortex thickness in a community sample of adolescents.
- This study reinforces the link between breastfeeding and cognitive abilities, including IQ scores.
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