Body Composition Changes from Infancy to 4 Years and Associations with Early Childhood Cognition in Preterm and

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
06:35

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Published on: April 28, 2016

35.5K

Johannah M Scheurer1, Lei Zhang2, Erin A Plummer1

  • 1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Neonatology
|June 14, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Body composition changes in preterm infants are linked to cognitive outcomes. Specific gains in fat-free mass correlate with higher IQ and processing speed, while fat mass gains are associated with cognitive function. These insights may guide growth interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Neurodevelopmental Science
  • Body Composition Analysis

Background:

  • Premature infants face risks of neurodevelopmental complications.
  • Early growth is crucial for later cognitive development.
  • The link between early body composition and cognitive function in preterm infants requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare changes in fat-free mass and adiposity between preterm and full-term infants up to preschool age.
  • To investigate the association between these body composition changes and early childhood cognition.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective observational study included 71 infants (20 preterm, 51 full-term).
  • Body composition was measured using air displacement plethysmography at term, 3-4 months corrected age, and 4 years.
  • Cognitive function was assessed at 4 years, with analyses using linear regression.

Main Results:

  • In preterm infants, increased percent body fat from term to 4 months was linked to lower working memory (p=0.01).
  • Higher fat-free mass gains from 4 months to 4 years correlated with better full-scale IQ (p=0.03) and processing speed (p≤0.02).
  • In full-term infants, increased fat mass from 4 months to 4 years was associated with lower full-scale IQ (p=0.03).

Conclusions:

  • Body composition changes during infancy and early childhood impact different aspects of cognitive function.
  • These findings highlight the importance of monitoring body composition for cognitive development in infants.
  • The results may inform targeted interventions to optimize growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
AdiposityBody compositionExecutive functionGrowth, fat-free massIntelligence quotientNeurodevelopmental outcomePremature neonatesProcessing speed

More Related Videos

Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol19:32

Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol

Published on: February 18, 2012

29.0K
C. elegans Positive Butanone Learning, Short-term, and Long-term Associative Memory Assays09:58

C. elegans Positive Butanone Learning, Short-term, and Long-term Associative Memory Assays

Published on: March 11, 2011

30.5K

Related Concept Videos

Composite Bodies00:55

Composite Bodies

A composite body is a body made up of multiple parts, connected to form a larger, unified object. Each part has its own weight and center of gravity, which must be considered to determine the center of gravity of the composite body. In cases where the density or specific weight is constant, the center of gravity coincides with the centroid.
Composite bodies have widespread applications in mechanical engineering, from automobiles to aircraft to rockets. For example, an automobile wheel comprises...
1.4K
Composition of Body Fluids01:29

Composition of Body Fluids

Water functions as a solvent accommodating various solutes, which can be categorized under electrolytes and non-electrolytes. Non-electrolytes are usually held together by covalent bonds, restricting them from dissociating in solution, thereby leading to a lack of electrically charged components upon dissolving in water. They are predominantly organic molecules, such as glucose, creatinine, and urea. Electrolytes, on the other hand, are compounds that can break down into ions in water.
2.6K
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development from Childhood into Adulthood01:25

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development from Childhood into Adulthood

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development emphasizes the role of thinking in a child's learning process, suggesting that children are naturally curious about their environment. His approach to development is discontinuous, proposing that cognitive abilities progress through distinct stages, each with unique characteristics. Central to Piaget's theory is schemata—mental structures that allow individuals to understand and interpret the world.
Schemata: Building Blocks of Knowledge
1.7K
Piaget's Stage 4 of Cognitive Development01:19

Piaget's Stage 4 of Cognitive Development

The formal operational stage, as described in Piaget's cognitive development theory, begins around age 11 and extends into adulthood. It marks the emergence of advanced cognitive abilities that differentiate adolescent and adult thinking from those of younger children. This stage is characterized by abstract reasoning, hypothetical-deductive reasoning, and a more complex understanding of self and others.
Abstract Reasoning and Hypothetical-Deductive Thinking
Unlike the concrete operational...
678
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
506
Cognitive Dissonance01:38

Cognitive Dissonance

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
37.5K