A new study highlights that breastfeeding for six months may significantly enhance children’s cognitive and academic development well into adolescence. Researchers analyzed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a large UK-based project tracking more than 14,500 families, to investigate the long-term effects of breastfeeding.
The findings reveal that children breastfed for six months consistently scored higher on intelligence tests, demonstrated stronger reading and math abilities, and developed improved communication skills. While early childhood advantages in fine motor skills and reduced hyperactivity were noted, the most robust associations emerged in IQ and academic performance during school years.
Across more than 370 neurocognitive measures, the study identified 42 outcomes with significant positive associations. Children breastfed for six months scored approximately four to five points higher on IQ tests at both ages eight and fifteen. Reading and mathematics scores also showed strong benefits, with spelling improvements being weaker but still notable. Language outcomes varied, yet significant gains were recorded in conversational abilities, particularly at age nine.
Beyond academics, breastfeeding appeared linked to subtle but meaningful behavioral and developmental patterns. For example, children were more likely to display right-handedness by age three and exhibited a greater internal sense of control by age eight. Some preschool benefits, such as lower activity levels and fewer signs of hyperactivity, were also observed.
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The research builds upon earlier studies, including a randomized controlled trial in Belarus that reported higher verbal IQ and language skills among breastfed children. Large-scale observational data from Scotland, Japan, and Australia have also supported links between breastfeeding and reduced learning difficulties, developmental delays, and enhanced intelligence. However, prior results have often been inconsistent due to small sample sizes or methodological differences.
Importantly, this new analysis adjusted for a wide range of social and demographic factors—such as parental education, maternal smoking, and housing conditions—to reduce bias. While researchers caution that not every outcome was significant, the consistency of IQ and reading benefits suggests a lasting cognitive impact.
Breastfeeding rates remain varied, with less than one-third of mothers in the ALSPAC study still breastfeeding at six months. Researchers emphasize that while breastfeeding is only one factor in child development, its potential to boost long-term academic success adds to the growing evidence supporting sustained breastfeeding practices.