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Exclusive breastfeeding for six months linked to fewer ADHD symptoms in children
PsyPost • • health
Key Points:
- A Norwegian study published in Biological Psychiatry found that infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months exhibit fewer ADHD symptoms in early childhood, even after accounting for genetic predisposition and socioeconomic factors.
- The research analyzed data from over 37,000 children, using genetic risk scores and sibling comparisons to isolate the effects of breastfeeding from familial genetic and environmental influences.
- Longer durations of exclusive breastfeeding were consistently linked to reduced hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention symptoms at ages three, five, and eight, though the effect size diminished slightly by age eight.
- Sibling analyses supported a potential direct biological or psychological influence of breastfeeding on behavioral development, but the reductions in symptoms were small and may not be clinically significant for individual children.
- The study was observational and relied on parent-reported data, so further research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms behind breast milk's impact on neurodevelopment and to confirm these findings in controlled settings.
