A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of East Anglia has revealed a significant link between infant stunting and differences in cognitive and brain function. This groundbreaking research suggests that children with stunted growth can experience diminished cognitive abilities as a result of early brain function disparities, which can be detected as early as six months of age.
The study focused on a crucial aspect of cognitive function known as ‘visual working memory,’ which involves the capacity to retain and process visual information. The researchers compared this visual working memory in children with stunted growth to that of children with typical growth. Their findings, published in the journal “Nature Human Behaviour,” unveiled that infants with poor physical growth exhibited disruptions in their visual working memory. This disruption made them more susceptible to distractions, ultimately leading to poorer cognitive abilities one year later.
While previous research had established a connection between stunted growth and later cognitive challenges, this study is the first to identify such an association during infancy. Moreover, it marks the first time that stunted growth has been linked to functional disparities in early brain development.
The research, led by Professor John Spencer from UEA’s School of Psychology, involved an extensive brain imaging study encompassing over 200 children. The findings were surprising to the researchers, as they observed a significant impact on brain function associated with poor growth during early development.
Typically-developing infants displayed engagement of a working memory brain network, and this brain activity was predictive of their cognitive outcomes one year later. In contrast, infants with stunted growth exhibited a distinct pattern of brain activity, indicating higher distractibility. This distractibility was linked to a brain network typically responsible for allocating attention, suppressing distractions, and maintaining items in working memory.
The study assessed the brain activity and cognitive abilities of infants between six to nine months of age, with cognitive ability being reevaluated one year later. The results indicated that infants with stunted growth, often attributed to inadequate nutrition or poor health, consistently performed poorly in cognitive assessments at both stages.
Notably, some children with restricted growth managed to excel in cognitive testing during their second year, and this achievement was associated with unexpectedly strong visual memory during the earlier stage (six to nine months).
These findings underscore the potential benefits of early interventions aimed at improving working memory and addressing distractibility in infants. Such interventions may mitigate or prevent cognitive disadvantages in later life. Additionally, this research highlights the critical importance of studying brain function during the early stages of development.
This study was a collaborative effort involving the University of Nottingham, the Community Empowerment Lab, Durham University, University of Iowa, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The research received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the US National Institutes of Health, and the Leverhulme Trust.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Cognitive Development in Stunted Infants
What is the main finding of the study regarding infant stunting and cognitive function?
The main finding of the study is that infant stunting, which is often attributed to factors like poor nutrition or ill health, is associated with differences in cognitive and brain function as early as six months of age. Children with stunted growth exhibit disruptions in their ‘visual working memory,’ making them more easily distracted and leading to poorer cognitive abilities one year later.
How was the research conducted, and what was the sample size?
The research was conducted through an extensive brain imaging study involving more than 200 children. This study compared the visual working memory of children with stunted growth to that of children with typical growth.
What brain networks were involved in the study’s findings?
The study revealed that typically-developing infants engaged a working memory brain network, which predicted their cognitive outcomes one year later. In contrast, infants with stunted growth showed brain activity associated with the allocation of attention, distraction suppression, and maintaining items in working memory.
Why is this study significant?
This study is significant because it is the first to establish a link between stunted growth and cognitive function disparities in infancy. It highlights the importance of early interventions to improve working memory and address distractibility in infants, potentially reducing cognitive disadvantages in later life.
What are the potential implications of these findings?
The findings suggest that efforts to enhance working memory and reduce distractibility during an infant’s early months may have long-term benefits in terms of cognitive development. This research underscores the critical importance of studying brain function during early development to better understand and address cognitive challenges.
Who funded this research?
The research received funding from various sources, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the US National Institutes of Health, and the Leverhulme Trust.
Where can I find the full research paper?
The full research paper is published in the journal “Nature Human Behaviour” under the reference “Stunting in infancy is associated with atypical activation of working memory and attention networks” by Sobanawartiny Wijeakumar, Samuel H. Forbes, Vincent A. Magnotta, Sean Deoni, Kiara Jackson, Vinay P. Singh, Madhuri Tiwari, Aarti Kumar, and John P. Spencer, with the DOI 10.1038/s41562-023-01725-3.
More about Cognitive Development in Stunted Infants
- Nature Human Behaviour: Stunting in infancy is associated with atypical activation of working memory and attention networks
- University of East Anglia: Research on Infant Stunting and Cognitive Function
- University of Nottingham: Collaborative Research on Infant Development
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Funding for Cognitive Development Research
5 comments
big sample size 200 kids, so this real science not just guesswork.
this research very important cuz it say stunted kids got brain probs real early. need help them early on!
wow this is crazy infant stunting messes up brain?!
bill & melinda gates foundation helped pay for this, they do lots of good research.
where can I find full paper? gotta read it myself!