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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Impact of neonatal growth on IQ and behavior at early school age

Lisa G Smithers1, John W Lynch, Seungmi Yang

  • 1School of Population Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. lisa.smithers@adelaide.edu.au

Pediatrics
|June 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Faster neonatal weight and head circumference gain in infants is linked to higher IQ scores and better behavior in early childhood. This suggests early growth may positively impact cognitive development and emotional well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neonatal Health

Background:

  • Neonatal growth, including weight gain and head circumference increase, is crucial for infant development.
  • Understanding the long-term impact of early growth on cognitive and behavioral outcomes is essential for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between neonatal weight gain (NWG) and head circumference gain (HCG) in the first four weeks of life.
  • To determine the relationship between early infant growth and IQ scores and behavior at 6.5 years of age.

Main Methods:

  • Data from the Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial, including full-term Belarusian infants, were analyzed.
  • Neonatal weight gain (NWG) and head circumference gain (HCG) were calculated as percentage change from birth size over the first 4 weeks.
  • IQ and behavior (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) were assessed at 6.5 years, with statistical models adjusted for confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • Infants in the highest quartile of NWG showed 1.5-point higher IQ scores compared to those in the lowest quartile.
  • A protective association was observed between NWG and teacher-reported behavioral difficulties, but not parent-reported difficulties.
  • Similar positive associations were found between HCG and IQ, as well as behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Accelerated weight and head circumference gain in the first month of life may positively influence children's IQ.
  • The findings suggest a potential link between early neonatal growth and later cognitive and behavioral development.
  • Reverse causality, where brain function influences neonatal growth, cannot be ruled out.
Abstract

Keywords:
IQbehaviorhead circumferenceneonatal growthweight gain

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