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Associations between early infections and childhood cognition in the Newcastle Thousand Families Study birth cohort

Erin Pennock1,2, Emma L Slack2, Jess A Grebby2,3

  • 1School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
|November 29, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Early life infections, particularly lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), may negatively impact childhood cognition. While tonsillitis showed a positive link to IQ, overall infections weren't significant, suggesting specific infections warrant further study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Neuroscience
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood infections are linked to developmental issues like stunted growth, malnutrition, and reduced cognition.
  • Understanding the long-term cognitive effects of early-life infections is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infections in early childhood (birth to 5 years) and cognitive abilities at age 11.
  • To explore specific infection types and their relationship with cognitive outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Newcastle Thousand Families Study (NTFS) including 741 participants.
  • Assessed cognitive abilities (IQ, English, Arithmetic) at age 11.
  • Employed multivariable linear regression to analyze relationships between early infections, *Helicobacter pylori* seropositivity, and cognitive scores, adjusting for confounders.

Main Results:

  • No significant association was found between the total number of infections and cognitive outcomes (IQ, EQ, AQ).
  • Tonsillitis showed a positive association with IQ (b = 6.43, p = 0.022).
  • Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) demonstrated significant negative relationships with all cognitive measures. *Helicobacter pylori* seropositivity at age 50 was negatively associated with English (EQ) and Arithmetic (AQ) abilities (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Specific infections, such as LRTIs, may negatively influence childhood cognitive development.
  • While overall infection load wasn't linked to cognition, certain infections like LRTIs and *H. pylori* warrant further investigation.
  • Future research should focus on infection severity, recurrence, and their precise impact on cognitive trajectories.

Keywords:
Cohort studiescognitionepidemiologyinfections

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