The relationship between nutrition in infancy and cognitive performance during adolescence

Artikel

[Objectives:] In this study, we aimed to investigate the long-term associations between breastfeeding duration during infancy, diet quality as measured by a diet score at 1 year of age, and cognitive performance during adolescence. [Methods:] Participants (n = 717) were recruited from the West Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, a prospective longitudinal study of 2868 children and their families based in Perth, WA, Australia. Breastfeeding duration and an early diet score at age 1 year were used as the main predictor variables, while a computerized cognitive battery (CogState) was used to assess adolescents’ cognitive performance at 17 years. The diet score, which has seven food group components, was based on a 24-h recall questionnaire completed by the mother at 1 year of age. A higher diet score represents a better, more nutritious eating pattern. Associations between breastfeeding duration, diet score, and cognitive performance were assessed in multivariable regression models [Results:] Higher diet scores at 1 year representing better diet quality were significantly associated with faster reaction times in cognitive performance at 17 years [Detection Task (DET): β = −0.004, 95% CI: −0.008; 0.000, p = 0.036; Identification Task (IDN): β = −0.004, 95% CI: −0.008; 0.000, p = 0.027]. Breastfeeding duration (≥4 months) was also significantly associated with a shorter reaction time, but only for males (DET: β = −0.026, 95% CI: −0.046; −0.006, p = 0.010). [Conclusion:] Nutrition in early childhood may have a long-term association with fundamental cognitive processing speed, which is likely to be related to enhanced brain development in the first year of life.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: Frontiers in Nutrition ; ISSN: 2296-861X ; Volume: 2 ; Year: 2015 ; Pages: -- ; Lausanne: Frontiers Media

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Sozialwissenschaften, Soziologie, Anthropologie
• Subject: nutrition ; breastfeeding ; cognitive performance ; CogState ; early childhood ; adolescence ; Raine study

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Nyaradi, Anett ; Oddy, Wendy H. ; Hickling, Siobhan ; Li, Jianghong ; Foster, Jonathan K.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Frontiers Media
• (where): Lausanne
• (when): 2015

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.3389/fnut.2015.00002
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/231506
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET