Breastfeeding and Cognitive Development

By Jasna Cameron

Some say breast milk is more precious than gold. No one can dispute this regarding all the proven benefits it carries for both mom and baby.

It is full of antibodies that strengthen the immune system in fighting against illnesses, allergies, and many chronic conditions. Infant-nutrition expert Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and OB-GYN at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, New York, and the author of Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession, confirms:

"The incidences of pneumonia, colds, and viruses are reduced among breastfed babies."

Other benefits of breastfeeding include:

• Breastfed babies suffer fewer chest and ear infections. If the baby falls ill, breast milk, as a living fluid, can make extra white blood cells to fight the disease.

• Mother's milk is filled with essential good bacteria that protect the baby's digestive system, helping reduce constipation and stomach upsets.

• The American Diabetes Association stresses that breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing type 1 diabetes and becoming overweight or obese later in life, which is a "risk factor for type 2 diabetes."

• Research also confirms that breastfeeding protects against childhood leukemia and lymphomas.

• Breast milk contains stem cells that may support the development and repair of major organs.

Ultimately the overall positive influence of breast milk cannot be denied as it is a bioactive live fluid that has been evolving over millions of years with the single purpose of maximizing the infant's development.

The medical community also highlights the overwhelming advantages for nursing mothers, from reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, and postpartum depression to losing weight naturally and healthily.

Over and above the medically proven benefits listed above, the practical advantages of saving money on formula, and facilitating an easy transition to solids, there is still a point of contention over just how potent this life elixir is. To be more precise, there is an ongoing debate over the level of impact that breastmilk has on cognitive development. So, to put it simply, does breast milk aid cognitive development?

Breast milk Composition

We know for sure that breastmilk plays a role in the cognitive development of babies because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for brain growth, the majority of which occurs in the first two years of a child's life. In addition, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA or A.A.) stimulate the nervous system and brain development.

Cognitive Development

Over the last few decades and through numerous studies worldwide, scientists have endeavored to prove the causality and the degree of correlation between breastfeeding duration and cognitive ability. The main question is, does breastfeeding give children a cognitive advantage by enhancing their thinking processes, memory, and decision-making?

How is it Measured?

Various studies have identified several tests where breastfed children score higher than their non-breastfed peers. It is thought that breastfeeding can increase a child's I.Q. by a small amount and several studies corroborate the difference in I.Q. points in exclusively breastfed children.

Scientists accommodate several extraneous factors that can moderate the outcome, which is why those variables have been controlled in the research process to minimize their effect. The most obvious objection by those who negate the strong influence of breastfeeding on cognitive growth is that the mother who chooses to breastfeed for an extended period is the type of mother who will devote herself more intensely to child-rearing and ultimately have a noticeable impact in stimulating her child. They argue that breastfed children are more intelligent because they are raised by parents who focus on and enhance their children's intellectual development.

Results

However, when it came down to numbers, results have yielded that breastfeeding is positively associated with how children perform in intelligence tests. Babies who were breastfed for more than six months had mean verbal I.Q. scores almost four points higher at age six than children who were never breastfed. Children who had been breastfed for 12 months had an I.Q. that was four points higher than those breastfed for less than a month. In a Harvard study, scientists found that for each additional month, a child was breastfed by the age of 3, had better language skills, and had higher I.Q. scores at the age of 7 compared to their non-breastfed counterparts.

These large-scale and long-term studies have noted that higher scores in cognitive and intelligence tests can be identified among breastfed infants throughout childhood and adolescence.

What do those results mean?

In the long run, people are interested in how the positive impact of breastfeeding on early childhood development translates into more adapted and successful adults. For example, are breastfed babies more likely to turn into well-educated and higher-earning adults? It is not just about the high scores on the elementary school I.Q. tests, but how does it serve them later in life?

Even though some may argue that an average gain of 3.44 IQ points noted in breastfed children may be too inconsequential, granting no further concessions in life, extensive research has presented evidence that this, in fact, may have quite a substantial impact.

These results are further corroborated by seemingly unrelated research and cross-country comparison on the impact of just one I.Q. point increase in raising the average gross domestic product.

Long-term studies followed the subjects well into their adulthood. They showed them to be more intelligent, have remained at school longer, and generally become higher earners. It also indicated that the duration of breastfeeding had a positive effect on how well the subjects were doing later in life.

Conclusion

More research is needed to understand to what extent is the boost in the I.Q. due to the composition of the breastmilk itself and what is part of the physical and social interactions of the nursing process. However, it is interesting that even formula companies are intent on adding these essential fatty acids found in breast milk which facilitate brain and eye development. The critical components associated with cognitive development must be further researched and better understood, not just for the manufacture of infant formula but for babies who cannot be breastfed.

Even if some doubt the causality, and in some instances, it can be debated how influential it can be, a significant correlation between breastfeeding and its prolonged duration and a child's cognitive development has been identified. There is no reason to despair if you are unable to breastfeed. Scientists agree that numerous factors contribute to your child's cognitive development, including a safe and loving environment.