A large study from the University of Bristol has found that breastfeeding for at least six months is associated with measurable improvements in children’s intelligence, academic performance, and certain speech and motor skills that extend into adolescence.
The findings, published in the journal Nutrients, draw on data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), which tracked more than 14,500 UK families from pregnancy through their children’s teenage years.
Long-Term Benefits Observed
Researchers reported that children breastfed for six months scored higher in verbal, performance, and total IQ tests at ages 8 and 15, with gains averaging 4 to 5 IQ points. They also performed better in national reading and mathematics assessments, though similar improvements in science did not reach statistical significance.
Language outcomes were mixed, but one of the most consistent findings was better pragmatic conversational skills at age nine, as measured by the Children’s Communication Checklist. Fine motor skills also showed early advantages at ages 30 and 42 months.
Beyond cognitive outcomes, breastfed children were more likely to be right-handed and demonstrated a stronger sense of internal control at age eight. Behavioral benefits were limited, but researchers noted lower activity levels and reduced hyperactivity in preschool years.
Robust Statistical Analysis
The Bristol team screened 373 different neurocognitive outcomes, ultimately finding significant associations in 42 measures. To minimize bias, results had to meet strict thresholds both before and after adjusting for social and demographic factors, including parental education, maternal age, birth order, smoking in pregnancy, and housing status.
Among the 11,337 mothers who provided six-month data, 28.7% were still breastfeeding, 24.4% had never breastfed, and 46.9% had stopped before six months. Comparisons focused on children breastfed at six months versus those who were never breastfed.
Memory measures showed weaker associations, with only one specific task — non-word repetition at age eight — remaining strongly linked to breastfeeding after adjustment.
Broader Context
Previous studies on breastfeeding and cognition have yielded mixed results, often due to smaller sample sizes or differences in study design. However, evidence from randomized trials, such as a landmark study in Belarus, and large-scale observational data from Scotland, Japan, and Australia, also support links between breastfeeding and improved IQ, reading, and language development.
Systematic reviews suggest the overall effect is modest but consistent. The Bristol study strengthens that body of evidence by confirming associations across a wide range of outcomes, particularly academic performance and speech skills.
Conclusion
The researchers concluded that breastfeeding for six months is linked to sustained cognitive benefits, including higher IQ, stronger reading and math skills, and improved conversational ability. Behavioral differences were minimal, but the study highlights breastfeeding’s role in supporting intellectual development well into adolescence
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Federal Budget Cuts Threaten Women’s Health Research and Innovation
