Recent research has revealed a concerning link between giving birth to low-birth-weight infants and potential cognitive decline later in life. The study, which involved 15,323 women with an average age of 62, suggests that mothers who have had low-birth-weight deliveries may experience memory and thinking problems equivalent to one to two years of aging.

These findings indicate that low-birth-weight deliveries could serve as an early indicator of compromised cognitive health in the future. While the study does not definitively establish causation, it highlights a significant association that warrants further investigation and consideration of preventive measures.

Key Insights:

• Giving birth to low-birth-weight infants has been linked to cognitive decline.
• The cognitive impact is comparable to aging by one to two years.
• The study encompassed 15,323 women, shedding light on this concerning association.

Individuals who give birth to infants weighing less than 5.5 pounds may face an increased likelihood of experiencing memory and cognitive challenges later in life compared to those with higher birth weight infants. The study, published in the online edition of Neurology on June 12, 2024, underscores that the cognitive effects observed in individuals with low-birth-weight deliveries are akin to the impact of aging by one to two years.

It is crucial to note that while the research does not establish a direct causal relationship between delivering a low-birth-weight infant and cognitive issues, it does highlight a concerning correlation. Furthermore, the study revealed that individuals who had multiple low-birth-weight deliveries tended to exhibit lower cognitive scores.

Lead author of the study, Diana C. Soria-Contreras, PhD, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, commented on the findings, emphasizing that previous studies have linked low-birth-weight deliveries to heightened risks of cardiovascular disease and hypertension.

Soria-Contreras stated, “Our study suggests that a history of delivering a low-birth-weight child may also be indicative of potential cognitive challenges in later life.”

The research involved 15,323 female participants, all of whom had undergone thinking and memory assessments at an average age of 62. Among the participants, 8% had a history of low-birth-weight deliveries, defined as infants weighing less than 5.5 pounds for pregnancies lasting over 20 weeks.

Participants provided details regarding their pregnancy complications, birth outcomes, and other relevant information through a questionnaire. They also completed a series of cognitive assessments to evaluate memory, learning, and thinking abilities.

Upon analyzing the results, researchers combined the average scores of memory and cognitive tests, with higher scores indicating better cognitive function. The study revealed an average score difference of -0.06 for speed and attention tests and -0.05 for learning and working memory between individuals with and without low-birth-weight deliveries.

This discrepancy in scores is comparable to the cognitive impact associated with aging by one to two years, underscoring the potential implications of low-birth-weight deliveries on cognitive health.