Birth Weight and Cognitive Ability in Childhood Among Siblings and Nonsiblings

Yang, Seungmi; Lynch, John; Süsser, Ezra; Lawlor, Debbie A.

doi:10.1542/peds.2007-3851

Cited by 27 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Results of such studies have shown positive relationships, 31 effects only in boys, 16 no relationship, 32,33 or a weak relationship. 34 Caution has been urged in interpreting twin studies, and we accept that the majority of the population are singletons. 31 However, twin studies do provide the best control for genetic factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Intrauterine Growth on Verbal IQ Scores in Childhood: A Study of Monozygotic Twins

et al. 2010

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Intrauterine Growth on Verbal IQ Scores in Childhood: A Study of Monozygotic Twins

et al. 2010

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“…However, some data indicate that the observed associations may be explained largely by family characteristics rather than specific intrauterine effects (21). Some twin results also hint that the association between birth weight and childhood IQ may be mediated by genetic factors (22).…”

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confidence: 99%

Long-term influence of normal variation in neonatal characteristics on human brain development

Walhovd

Fjell

Brown³

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

166

163

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It is now recognized that a number of cognitive, behavioral, and mental health outcomes across the lifespan can be traced to fetal development. Although the direct mediation is unknown, the substantial variance in fetal growth, most commonly indexed by birth weight, may affect lifespan brain development. We investigated effects of normal variance in birth weight on MRI-derived measures of brain development in 628 healthy children, adolescents, and young adults in the large-scale multicenter Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics study. This heterogeneous sample was recruited through geographically dispersed sites in the United States. The influence of birth weight on cortical thickness, surface area, and striatal and total brain volumes was investigated, controlling for variance in age, sex, household income, and genetic ancestry factors. Birth weight was found to exert robust positive effects on regional cortical surface area in multiple regions as well as total brain and caudate volumes. These effects were continuous across birth weight ranges and ages and were not confined to subsets of the sample. The findings show that (i) aspects of later child and adolescent brain development are influenced at birth and (ii) relatively small differences in birth weight across groups and conditions typically compared in neuropsychiatric research (e.g., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders) may influence group differences observed in brain parameters of interest at a later stage in life. These findings should serve to increase our attention to early influences.

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“…Research including a systematic review over the whole range of birth weight has consistently shown that perinatal characteristics are associated with neurodevelopmental, cognitive and educational outcomes, particularly in infants who were extremely premature and low birth weight 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15. Yet, previous studies of low birth weight infants seldom differentiate between infants with low birth weight due to early delivery and those with restricted intrauterine growth 12 13 14.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, previous studies of low birth weight infants seldom differentiate between infants with low birth weight due to early delivery and those with restricted intrauterine growth 12 13 14. Studies also rarely estimate the extent to which non-biological risk factors, such as maternal sociodemographic factors and the social environment at birth, modify the relationship between perinatal characteristics and neurocognitive development 4 9 15…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Neighbourhood socioeconomic status and maternal factors at birth as moderators of the association between birth characteristics and school attainment: a population study of children attending government schools in Western Australia

Malacova

Blair

et al. 2009

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health

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These findings suggest that having suboptimal growth in utero or an older sibling at birth increases vulnerability to poor literacy attainment especially among children born to single mothers or those in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. These data provide evidence for advocating lifestyles compatible with optimum fetal growth and socioeconomic conditions conducive to healthy lifestyles, particularly during pregnancy.

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Birth Weight and Cognitive Ability in Childhood Among Siblings and Nonsiblings

Abstract: In these data, the positive association between birth weight and childhood cognitive ability at ages 5 to 12 years is explained largely by family characteristics rather than a specific intrauterine effect.

Cited by 27 publications

References 36 publications

The Effect of Intrauterine Growth on Verbal IQ Scores in Childhood: A Study of Monozygotic Twins

The Effect of Intrauterine Growth on Verbal IQ Scores in Childhood: A Study of Monozygotic Twins

Long-term influence of normal variation in neonatal characteristics on human brain development

Neighbourhood socioeconomic status and maternal factors at birth as moderators of the association between birth characteristics and school attainment: a population study of children attending government schools in Western Australia

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