Breastfeeding and cognitive development
Childhood cognitive and behavioural problems are strongly associated with social disadvantage later in life, yet may be avoided with early prevention. Breastfeeding, particularly during the first six months after birth, may be the best prevention. The EU-funded INNODEVELOPMENT (The impact of breastfeeding on children’s cognitive and non-cognitive development: One step closer to addressing the notion of causality) project examined the causal link between breastfeeding and prevention of childhood cognitive deficits. For the investigation, the team used data from the Growing up in Ireland cohort study. The team also studied factors affecting mothers’ decisions to breastfeed, and the effect of other parenting practices on children’s cognitive and non-cognitive development. For the second part of the research, the team used data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development and a similar French study (EDEN). The project studied women in Canada and France. For the causality study, researchers focused on non-verbal reasoning and expressive vocabulary. They considered two aspects of externalising behaviours in late childhood and early adolescence: hyperactivity and conduct problems. The investigation compared such traits in terms of breastfeeding. Results among children aged 3 and 5 generally indicated no statistically significant differences between being breastfed or not. The one exception was that children who had been breastfed exclusively for a minimum of 6 months had lower maternally rated hyperactivity at age 3. The finding did not carry over to age 5. Reduction in maternally rated hyperactivity and conduct problems was seen again at age 9 but not at 13. Boys may show the greatest hyperactivity. Analysis indicated that toddlers aged 12 months with good communication skills showed good social competence at 18 months. The same individuals developed even better communication abilities by 24 months. Maternal warmth itself was not a factor, yet toddlers having advanced communication skills apparently evoke maternal warmth that in turn develops social competence. Findings helped identify factors affecting cognitive development and deficits in toddlers, which may lead to effective corrective measures.
Keywords
Breastfeeding, cognitive development, childhood, hyperactivity, INNODEVELOPMENT, conduct problems
