A longitudinal study of cognitive and educational outcomes of those born small for gestational age

Abstract

AimThis study examined the long‐term cognitive and educational outcomes of being born small for gestational age (SGA) and assessed whether the family's attitude towards education modified the effect of being born SGA on educational attainment.MethodsWe used anonymised data on 9598 individuals from the Stockholm Birth Cohort. This study focused on babies born in 1953 in the Stockholm metropolitan area, who were followed up for 50 years, and included educational data at the age of 13 and 48. Ordinary least squares regression analyses, modification analyses and logistic regression analyses were conducted.ResultsThe findings suggested that individuals who were born SGA (n = 798) had lower mean verbal, spatial and numerical test scores than those born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) (n = 7364) and large for gestational age (n = 1436). The SGA/AGA differences were small, but statistically significant, and the effects of being born SGA on the test scores was modified by the family's attitude towards education. The findings also suggested that attaining higher education was largely, but not entirely, explained by the family's attitude towards education.ConclusionThe detrimental effects of being born SGA were limited on cognitive and educational outcomes, but may have been reduced by positive family attitudes.

Low Birth Weight Impairs Acquisition of Spatial Memory Task in Pigs

“…Our finding of impaired cognitive development is supported by earlier studies showing decreased learning and memory associated with LBW in pigs ( 17 , 18 ). Similarly, LBW in humans has been shown to cause learning difficulties throughout adolescence ( 6 , 7 ), as well as impaired spatial learning ( 47 ). However, there have also been studies which have shown LBW pigs to have a comparable, or even superior, cognitive performance compared to NBW pigs ( 19 – 22 ).…”

“…The sub-optimal development of LBW offspring has been associated with postnatal cognitive impairments in a variety of species. In humans, LBW has been linked to learning difficulties throughout adolescence ( 6 , 7 ). Impaired cognitive development associated with LBW has also been studied in a variety of animal models, most frequently in rats and sheep [although contrary to pigs and humans, LBW has to be experimentally induced in these models—( 8 )].…”

“…Finally, female and male pigs were tested to account for a potential confounding effect of sex. Based on studies assessing cognitive effects of LBW in humans ( 6 , 7 ) and earlier studies with pigs at various ages ( 17 , 18 ) it was expected that LBW would cause an impaired cognitive development in pigs. This would result in decreased performance in the spatial holeboard, compared to NBW pigs.…”

Discrimination learning and judgment bias in low birth weight pigs

“…Low birth weight (LBW) is a known risk-factor for impaired cognitive and emotional development in humans. Children who were small for gestational age at birth are more likely to experience learning difficulties (O’Keeffe et al 2003; Yu and Garcy 2018) and show impaired academic performance (Strauss 2000; Larroque et al 2001; Lindström et al 2017) throughout childhood and adolescence. In terms of emotional development, lower birth weight is associated with increased likelihood of anxiety in adulthood (Lahti et al 2010).…”

Highlights in this issue

“…. On the same topic, Yu and Garcy report that individuals born small for gestational age had lower mean verbal, spatial and numerical test scores than those born appropriate or large for gestational age. In the accompanying editorial, Horowitz‐Kraus provides us with an insight into new techniques that can help to distinguish between different causes of reading challenges, even before a child has failed to read at school .…”