Premature babies grow up at a higher risk of declining academic performance in math, reading and other areas, as well as having a higher risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But new research published recently in JAMA Network Open found that breastfeeding babies who were breastfed in the first weeks and months of life saw better brains a few years later. neurodevelopmental conditions.
In the study, which followed preterm infants for seven years, scientists from Harvard University’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the South Australian Institute of Health and Medical Research (SAHMRI) found that in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Preterm infants who received heavy breastfeeding during and following hospitalization had higher academic achievement, higher IQ, and a lower risk of ADHD later in life than preterm infants who were not breastfed.
Long-term neurodevelopmental benefits of breast milk in premature infants
Mandy Brown Belfort, MD, associate professor of pediatric neonatal medicine at Harvard University and director of clinical research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said the study found that breastfeeding preterm infants may have long-term neurodevelopmental benefits, although many families support breastfeeding. ideas, but may face serious challenges. The findings reinforce the importance of initiating and maintaining breastfeeding, as early breastfeeding can provide benefits to children years later.
Dr. Belfort and her team studied the neurodevelopmental outcomes of 586 preterm infants born at a maternity centre in Australia, who were assessed at age 7, at less than 33 weeks’ gestation. The research team examined data on breast milk dose (the amount of breast milk an infant consumes per day) and breast milk duration (the length of time that breastfeeding continues) and predicted several neurodevelopmental outcomes: including academic achievement, language and job IQ (VIQ & PIQ) ), ADHD symptoms, executive function, and behavior.
Children benefit from enhanced support for parents
Overall, the research team found that higher breast milk intake was associated with higher performance IQ, as well as higher reading and math scores. Parents reported fewer ADHD symptoms in children who consumed more breast milk during infancy, and the duration of breast milk intake (up to 18 months) was also associated with higher reading, spelling, and math scores.
The researchers noted that the beneficial link between breast milk and neurodevelopment was stronger for infants born at the lowest gestational age, especially those born prematurely within 30 weeks of gestation. Although the study was observational, causality might not be established, and there may be other unknown factors influencing the findings, the strengths of this study lie in its large size, the range of findings, and the ability to estimate the developmental status of school-aged children.
Importantly, the findings confirm the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), both of which recommend breastfeeding for infants. Dr. Belfort emphasized that the study confirms the recommended guidelines for breastfeeding preterm infants, and it reinforces the call for health policies and maternity and parental leave policies that support parents. Society as a whole needs to invest in families that will continue to benefit children beyond school age.
Text/Sun Luoxuan, photo/Wujun County
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