Intelligence is impacted if born small for gestational age

Date:
June 15, 2020
Source:
University of Warwick
Summary:
People born small for gestational age (SGA) have a lower IQ
throughout development, however the differences in IQ to those
born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) reduce by adulthood. The
effects of SGA on IQ are nearly as large as being born into lower
socio-economic status or receiving poor parenting in infancy.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== People born small for gestational age (SGA) have a lower IQ throughout development, however the differences in IQ to those born appropriate
for gestational age (AGA) reduce by adulthood. The effects of SGA on IQ
are nearly as large as being born into lower socio-economic status or
receiving poor parenting in infancy.


==========================================================================
It has been previously determined by researchers from the University
of Warwick that those with a smaller head circumference at birth and
subsequent poor head growth have a lower IQ. This research has now led
them to look at whether cognitive performance from infancy to adulthood
is affected by being born small for gestational age.

The researchers also determined whether other aspects such as being very preterm/very low birth weight, socioeconomic status and parent-infant relationship influence SGA's effect on cognitive performance.

In the paper, 'Small for Gestational Age -- Cognitive Performance
from Infancy to Adulthood: An Observational Study', published in the
journal British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology researchers from
the Department of Psychology at the University of Warwick have found
that those born small at gestational age have a lower IQ throughout development.

The researchers followed 203 VP/VLBW (under 32 weeks gestational age
and/or under 1500g) and 198 term born children (between 37 and 41 weeks gestation) in Germany born in 1985-6 into adulthood.

They determined SGA using 2 different methods, growth charts based
on birth weight and growth charts normed on ultrasound measurement in
pregnancy (fetal reference). They also assessed the parent's socioeconomic status and parent- infant relationship before the infant was 5 months old,
and had participants do a developmental and IQ tests on six occasions,
from 5 months to 26 years old.



========================================================================== While the fetal reference classified more infants as SGA than the
neonatal reference, SGA using either reference was associated with an IQ
-8 points lower than those born appropriate for gestational age (AGA),
with the difference narrowing into adulthood.

Independent of being SGA, being born very preterm or very low
birth weight was associated with IQ -16 points lower than term-born participants. Furthermore coming from a low socioeconomic family was
associated with -14 point lower IQ than those from a high socioeconomic
status.

It was also found that a poor parent-infant relationship was associated
with IQ-10 lower than those with a good Professor Dieter Wolke, from
the Department of Psychology at the University of Warwickrelationship
between infant and parent.

Professor Dieter Wolke, from the Department of Psychology at the
University of Warwick comments: "SGA, whether born preterm or at term,
seems to have adverse effects on cognitive development that are long
lasting. Reassuring is that there is some catch-up in IQ into adulthood."
"In contrast, being very preterm, into a lower socio-economic status
or having experienced poor parent-infant relationship has further and
even more severe adverse effects on IQ." Robert Eves, the first author
from the Department of Psychology at the University of Warwick adds:
"This shows us that those born SGA need extra interventions to ensure
their cognitive development is not put at jeopardy, especially if social
risk factors are also experienced by the infant.

"Such interventions could include optimised nutrition to ensure optimal
catch up growth following SGA birth or interventions for improving the parent-infant relationships."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Warwick. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Robert Eves, Marina Mendonc,a, Peter Bartmann, Dieter Wolke. Small
for
Gestational Age ‐ Cognitive Performance from Infancy to
Adulthood: An Observational Study. BJOG: An International Journal
of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 2020; DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.16341 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200615115756.htm

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