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Association of Breastfeeding Duration with Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in an Enriched Familial Likelihood Cohort for

Ruchi Punatar1,2, Kathleen Angkustsiri1,2,3, Laura R Kair3

  • 1Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.

Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|April 24, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding duration did not differ among neurodevelopmental outcomes in siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, longer breastfeeding was linked to higher cognitive scores in this high-risk group.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
  • Early life factors, including breastfeeding, are being investigated for their potential influence on neurodevelopment.
  • Siblings of children with ASD represent a population at higher likelihood for ASD, making them valuable for research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare breastfeeding duration in siblings of children with ASD.
  • To investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and neurodevelopmental outcomes in this cohort.
  • To determine if breastfeeding duration impacts ASD symptomatology or risk.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected via surveys in the Markers of Autism Risk in Babies-Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) study.
  • Neurodevelopmental evaluations included Mullen Scales of Early Learning and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.
  • Participants classified into typical development, ASD, or non-typical development groups.

Main Results:

  • Median breastfeeding duration was 10.70 months.
  • No significant differences in breastfeeding duration distribution across the three neurodevelopmental outcome groups.
  • Children breastfed for >12 months showed significantly higher cognitive scores than those breastfed for 0-3 months.
  • No significant association found between breastfeeding duration and ASD symptomatology or risk.

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding duration is not significantly associated with neurodevelopmental outcome categories in siblings of children with ASD.
  • Extended breastfeeding (>12 months) may be linked to enhanced cognitive development in this high-risk cohort.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the nuanced relationship between breastfeeding and neurodevelopmental trajectories.

Keywords:
ASDAutism Spectrum DisorderBreastfeedingCognitive abilityEnriched-Likelihood CohortMARBLES

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