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Early growth patterns are associated with intelligence quotient scores in children born small-for-gestational age

Marcia H Varella1, William J Moss2

  • 1Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences Research, Miami, FL, USA.

Early Human Development
|June 24, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Infant growth patterns impact intelligence quotient (IQ) in children born small-for-gestational age (SGA). Early catch-up growth is linked to higher IQ, while early catch-down growth is associated with lower IQ scores at age four.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neonatal Research

Background:

  • Children born small-for-gestational age (SGA) often experience altered growth trajectories.
  • Infant growth patterns may influence long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for early intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between infant growth trajectory patterns and intelligence quotient (IQ) scores at four years of age.
  • To specifically examine these associations in a cohort of children born small-for-gestational age (SGA).

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the Collaborative Perinatal Project for children born SGA.
  • Defined growth patterns based on weight-for-age z-score changes from birth to 12 months.
  • Utilized multivariate linear regression to assess growth patterns and Stanford-Binet IQ scores at age four.

Main Results:

  • Evaluated 5640 children, identifying distinct growth patterns.
  • Early catch-up growth was associated with higher IQ scores compared to steady growth.
  • Early catch-down growth patterns were linked to significantly lower IQ scores at four years.

Conclusions:

  • Infant weight gain patterns before four months are associated with IQ at age four in SGA infants.
  • Early catch-up growth correlates with slightly higher IQ, whereas early catch-down growth correlates with lower IQ.
  • Findings highlight the importance of early infant nutrition for neurodevelopmental outcomes in SGA children.
Abstract

Keywords:
Catch-up growthCognitionGrowthIntelligence quotientIntrauterine growth restrictionSGASmall-for-gestational age

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