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.
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.
Authors: Irene Esteban-Cornejo; Pontus Henriksson; Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez; Jérémy Vanhelst; Maria Forsner; Frederic Gottrand; Mathilde Kersting; Luis A Moreno; Jonatan R Ruiz; Kurt Widhalm; Francisco B Ortega Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2017-04-11 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Erinn T Rhodes; Dorota B Pawlak; Tamara C Takoudes; Cara B Ebbeling; Henry A Feldman; Margaret M Lovesky; Emily A Cooke; Michael M Leidig; David S Ludwig Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2010-10-20 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Karri Silventoinen; Aline Jelenkovic; Antti Latvala; Reijo Sund; Yoshie Yokoyama; Vilhelmina Ullemar; Catarina Almqvist; Catherine A Derom; Robert F Vlietinck; Ruth J F Loos; Christian Kandler; Chika Honda; Fujio Inui; Yoshinori Iwatani; Mikio Watanabe; Esther Rebato; Maria A Stazi; Corrado Fagnani; Sonia Brescianini; Yoon-Mi Hur; Hoe-Uk Jeong; Tessa L Cutler; John L Hopper; Andreas Busjahn; Kimberly J Saudino; Fuling Ji; Feng Ning; Zengchang Pang; Richard J Rose; Markku Koskenvuo; Kauko Heikkilä; Wendy Cozen; Amie E Hwang; Thomas M Mack; Sisira H Siribaddana; Matthew Hotopf; Athula Sumathipala; Fruhling Rijsdijk; Joohon Sung; Jina Kim; Jooyeon Lee; Sooji Lee; Tracy L Nelson; Keith E Whitfield; Qihua Tan; Dongfeng Zhang; Clare H Llewellyn; Abigail Fisher; S Alexandra Burt; Kelly L Klump; Ariel Knafo-Noam; David Mankuta; Lior Abramson; Sarah E Medland; Nicholas G Martin; Grant W Montgomery; Patrik K E Magnusson; Nancy L Pedersen; Anna K Dahl Aslan; Robin P Corley; Brooke M Huibregtse; Sevgi Y Öncel; Fazil Aliev; Robert F Krueger; Matt McGue; Shandell Pahlen; Gonneke Willemsen; Meike Bartels; Catharina E M van Beijsterveldt; Judy L Silberg; Lindon J Eaves; Hermine H Maes; Jennifer R Harris; Ingunn Brandt; Thomas S Nilsen; Finn Rasmussen; Per Tynelius; Laura A Baker; Catherine Tuvblad; Juan R Ordoñana; Juan F Sánchez-Romera; Lucia Colodro-Conde; Margaret Gatz; David A Butler; Paul Lichtenstein; Jack H Goldberg; K Paige Harden; Elliot M Tucker-Drob; Glen E Duncan; Dedra Buchwald; Adam D Tarnoki; David L Tarnoki; Carol E Franz; William S Kremen; Michael J Lyons; José A Maia; Duarte L Freitas; Eric Turkheimer; Thorkild I A Sørensen; Dorret I Boomsma; Jaakko Kaprio Journal: Twin Res Hum Genet Date: 2017-10 Impact factor: 1.587