Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2025
10:42
Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
17.4K
Microbiome profiles are associated with cognitive functioning in 45-month-old children
Fabian Streit1, Emese Prandovszky2, Tabea Send3
1Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|August 9, 2021
Summary
Early life gut microbiome composition is linked to childhood cognitive function. Specific bacteria, like Enterobacteriaceae, may mediate effects of maternal smoking on cognitive development.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Neuroscience
- Developmental psychology
Background:
- Early life factors significantly influence neurodevelopment and mental health risk.
- The gut microbiome, established early, interacts with the brain through the brain-immune-gut axis.
- The relationship between the early-life microbiome and cognitive functioning remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the fecal microbiome and cognitive functioning in 45-month-old children.
- To explore potential mediating roles of specific microbial taxa in environmental influences on cognition.
- To identify microbial pathways associated with cognitive development.
Main Methods:
- Fecal microbiome analysis using 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing in 380 children.
- Cognitive functioning assessment using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III).
- Mediation analyses to examine the role of microbial abundance in environmental-cognition associations.
Main Results:
- Overall microbiome profile significantly associated with cognitive functioning.
- A strong correlation found between cognition and an unidentified Enterobacteriaceae genus.
- Mediation analyses indicated this genus mediates the impact of maternal smoking on cognitive function.
- Enterobacter asburiae identified as the closest relative; microbial norspermidine biosynthesis pathway associated with cognition.
Conclusions:
- Gut microflora alterations are associated with childhood cognitive functioning.
- Altered gut microbiota may interact with environmental factors like maternal smoking.
- Further research into microbiome-targeted interventions for improving early childhood cognitive function is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Information Processing Approach
232
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
232
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
409
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
409
01:30Biological Influences on Intelligence
283
Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
283
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
84.4K
Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
84.4K
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
205
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
205
01:29Environmental Influences on Intelligence
538
Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
538