The Influence of Birth Size on Intelligence in Healthy Children Export

@article{citeulike:4864567, abstract = {OBJECTIVE. Birth parameters have been hypothesized to have an influence on IQ. However, studies within the range of normal birth size have been sparse. With this study we examined the associations between birth length, birth weight, head circumference, and gestational age within the normal birth size range in relation to childhood IQ in Asian children. METHODS. A cohort of 1979 of 2913 Asian children aged 7 to 9 years, recruited from 3 schools in Singapore, were followed yearly from 1999 onward. Birth parameters were recorded by health personnel. Childhood IQ was measured with the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices at ages 8 to 12. RESULTS. The mean IQ score across the sample (n = 1645) was 114.2. After controlling for multiple confounders for every 1-cm increment in birth length, 1 kg in birth weight, or 1 cm in head circumference, there was a corresponding increase in IQ of 0.49 points (P for trend < .001), 2.19 points (P for trend = .007) and .62 points (P for trend = .003), respectively. These associations persisted even after exclusion of premature children and children with extreme weights and head circumferences. CONCLUSIONS. Longer birth length, higher birth weight, or larger head circumferences within the normal birth size range are associated with higher IQ scores in Asian children. Our results suggest that antenatal factors reflected in altered rates of growth but within the normative range of pregnancy experiences play a role in generating cognitive potential. This has implications for targeting early intervention and preventative programs. 10.1542/peds.2008-3344}, author = {Broekman, Birit F. P. and Chan, Yiong-Huak and Chong, Yap-Seng and Quek, Swee-Chye and Fung, Daniel and Low, Yen-Ling and Ooi, Yoon-Phaik and Gluckman, Peter D. and Meaney, Michael J. and Wong, Tien-Yin and Saw, Seang-Mei}, citeulike-article-id = {4864567}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-3344}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/6/e1011.abstract}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/6/e1011.full.pdf}, citeulike-linkout-3 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19482733}, citeulike-linkout-4 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=19482733}, day = {1}, doi = {10.1542/peds.2008-3344}, issn = {1098-4275}, journal = {Pediatrics}, keywords = {birth, iq, size, weight}, month = {June}, number = {6}, pages = {e1011--1016}, posted-at = {2009-10-13 21:09:13}, priority = {2}, title = {The Influence of Birth Size on Intelligence in Healthy Children}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-3344}, volume = {123}, year = {2009} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:4864567 L3 - citeulike-article-id:4864567 N2 - OBJECTIVE. Birth parameters have been hypothesized to have an influence on IQ. However, studies within the range of normal birth size have been sparse. With this study we examined the associations between birth length, birth weight, head circumference, and gestational age within the normal birth size range in relation to childhood IQ in Asian children. METHODS. A cohort of 1979 of 2913 Asian children aged 7 to 9 years, recruited from 3 schools in Singapore, were followed yearly from 1999 onward. Birth parameters were recorded by health personnel. Childhood IQ was measured with the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices at ages 8 to 12. RESULTS. The mean IQ score across the sample (n = 1645) was 114.2. After controlling for multiple confounders for every 1-cm increment in birth length, 1 kg in birth weight, or 1 cm in head circumference, there was a corresponding increase in IQ of 0.49 points (P for trend < .001), 2.19 points (P for trend = .007) and .62 points (P for trend = .003), respectively. These associations persisted even after exclusion of premature children and children with extreme weights and head circumferences. CONCLUSIONS. Longer birth length, higher birth weight, or larger head circumferences within the normal birth size range are associated with higher IQ scores in Asian children. Our results suggest that antenatal factors reflected in altered rates of growth but within the normative range of pregnancy experiences play a role in generating cognitive potential. This has implications for targeting early intervention and preventative programs. 10.1542/peds.2008-3344 IS - 6 JF - Pediatrics SN - 1098-4275 EP - 1016 TI - The Influence of Birth Size on Intelligence in Healthy Children VL - 123 SP - e1011 KW - birth KW - iq KW - size KW - weight AU - Broekman, Birit AU - Chan, Yiong-Huak AU - Chong, Yap-Seng AU - Quek, Swee-Chye AU - Fung, Daniel AU - Low, Yen-Ling AU - Ooi, Yoon-Phaik AU - Gluckman, Peter AU - Meaney, Michael AU - Wong, Tien-Yin AU - Saw, Seang-Mei PY - 2009/06/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-3344 ER -