ArticlePloS one2022
To what extent does confounding explain the association between breastfeeding duration and cognitive development up to age 14? Findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study.
Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed.
- Association between breastfeeding and neurodevelopmental outcomes after late preterm birth.Pregnancy (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2026Article
- Human milk microbiome as a modulator of the early-life gut-brain axis: mechanisms and translational opportunities for neurodevelopment.Journal of translational medicine · 2026Review
- Longitudinal Evaluation from Birth to Adolescence of Soy Protein-Based Infant Formula Compared with Cow Milk-Based Formula and Breastfeeding: A Comprehensive Summary of Findings.Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2026Review
- WHO exclusive breastfeeding recommendation and cognitive development in Germany.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Breastfeeding Duration and Cognitive Performance Among Youths.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Growth and gastrointestinal tolerance of healthy formula-fed infants: a multicentre, prospective observational study.BMC pediatrics · 2025Observational
- Breastfeeding Duration and Child Development.JAMA network open · 2025Article
- The effects of duration of any breastfeeding on body mass index in Australian children: Exploration of health, economic and equity impacts.Pediatric obesity · 2025Article
- Breastfeeding initiation and duration: links to physical, mental and behavioural health in US children aged 3-5 years.BMJ nutrition, prevention & health · 2025Article
- Association between breastfeeding duration and educational attainment in rural Southwest Uganda: a population-based cohort study.Global health action · 2024Article
- Correlates of early child development among children with stunting: A cross-sectional study in Uganda.Maternal & child nutrition · 2024Article
- Predictors of change in early child development among children with stunting: Secondary analysis of a randomized trial in Uganda.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Breastfeeding, cognitive ability, and residual confounding: A comment on studies by Pereyra-Elìas et al.PloS one · 2024Article
- Is breastfeeding duration related to the health of migrant mother-child dyads experiencing homelessness? The ENFAMS cross-sectional survey.European journal of public health · 2023Article
- Association between breastfeeding duration and educational achievement in England: results from the Millennium Cohort Study.Archives of disease in childhood · 2023Article
- A Taxonomy of Non-honesty in Public Health Communication.Public health ethics · 2023Article
- Women's experiences and views on early breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway: quantitative and qualitative findings from the IMAgiNE EURO study.International breastfeeding journal · 2023Article
- Defining the lipid profiles of human milk, infant formula, and animal milk: implications for infant feeding.Frontiers in nutrition · 2023Article
- The brain-body disconnect: A somatic sensory basis for trauma-related disorders.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2022Review
- Association Between Breastfeeding and Neurodevelopment at 6 Years of Age in the French PELAGIE Birth Cohort.Journal of midwifery & women's healthArticle
Corrections and comments
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3 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBreastfeeding duration is associated with improved cognitive development in children, but it is unclear whether this is a causal relationship or due to confounding. This study evaluates whether the observed association is explained by socioeconomic position (SEP) and maternal cognitive ability.
methodsData from 7,855 singletons born in 2000-2002 and followed up to age 14 years within the UK Millennium Cohort Study were analysed. Mothers reported breastfeeding duration, and children's cognitive abilities were assessed at 5, 7, 11, and 14 years using validated measures. Standardised verbal (age 5 to 14) and spatial (age 5 to 11) cognitive scores were compared across breastfeeding duration groups using multivariable linear mixed-effects models (repeated outcome measures).
resultsAt all ages, longer breastfeeding durations were associated with higher cognitive scores after accounting for the child's own characteristics. Adjustment for SEP approximately halved the effect sizes. Further adjustment for maternal cognitive scores removed the remaining associations at age 5, but not at ages 7, 11 and 14 (e.g.: verbal scores, age 14; breastfed ≥12 months vs never breastfed: 0.26 SD; 95%CI: 0.18, 0.34).
conclusionThe associations between breastfeeding duration and cognitive scores persist after adjusting for SEP and maternal cognitive ability, however the effect was modest.
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