summary: Giving birth to a low birth weight baby can lead to memory and thinking problems later in life, and the study of 15,323 women showed that the decline in cognitive function in mothers who gave birth to low birth weight babies was equivalent to aging one to two years.
These findings suggest that having a low birth weight baby may be an indicator of cognitive decline later in life. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore preventative measures.
Key Facts:
- Giving birth to a low birth weight baby is associated with decreased cognitive function.
- The cognitive benefits are equivalent to 1-2 years of aging.
- The study involved 15,323 women with a mean age of 62 years.
sauce: A.A.N.
Women who give birth to babies weighing less than 5.5 pounds may be more likely to have problems with memory and thinking later in life than those who give birth to babies who did not have low birth weight, according to a study published online June 12, 2024. Neurology.
For low birth weight babies, the impact on memory and thinking skills is equivalent to aging one to two years.
The study doesn’t prove that having a low birth weight baby causes memory or thinking problems, it just shows a link.
“Previous studies have shown that people who give birth to low birth weight babies are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension,” said study author Diana C. Soria Contreras, PhD, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Our study also suggests that having a low birth weight baby may be a marker of poorer cognitive abilities later in life.”
The study involved 15,323 women with an average age of 62 years at the end of the thinking and memory tests. All participants had given birth at least once. Of the total participants, 1,224 (8%) had a history of giving birth to a low birth weight baby. Low birth weight was defined as a baby weighing less than 5.5 pounds at 20 weeks or more of pregnancy.
Participants completed a questionnaire about pregnancy complications, birth outcomes, birth weight, and other information.
They also underwent a series of thinking and memory tests.
The researchers combined the participants’ average scores from two tests that measured their memory and ability to respond quickly and accurately to situations, and two tests that measured their learning and working memory. Higher scores indicate better memory and thinking skills.
On average, the difference in scores between low-birth-weight and non-low-birth-weight babies was -0.06 on tests of speed and attention, and -0.05 on learning and working memory, comparable to the difference caused by an increase of 1 to 2 years in age in this population.
The results were similar after the researchers controlled for factors that can affect both birth weight and cognitive function, such as age, smoking status, and high blood pressure, and also when they did not include people who were born prematurely, had twins or other multiple pregnancies, or had pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders.
Furthermore, the higher the incidence of low birth weight babies, the lower the scores.
“Future studies are needed to confirm our findings and examine whether screening women with a history of low birth weight for cognitive impairment and taking steps to promote brain health can help prevent or delay future cognitive impairment and dementia,” Soria-Contreras said.
A limitation of this study is that most participants were non-Hispanic white, so the results may not be generalizable to other populations.
Funding: The research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute on Aging, and the Office of Women’s Health Research.
About this news article on cognitive decline
author: Natalie Conrad
sauce: A.A.N.
contact: Natalie Conrad – AAN
image: Image courtesy of Neuroscience News
Original Research: The survey results are Neurology
