A new Israeli study shows that breastfeeding, especially for six months or more, lowers the risk of neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) like autism in children.
The study of 570,000 infants found that exclusively breastfed babies were 28% less likely to develop NDCs, such as autism and ADHD. Babies breastfed for at least six months had an 18% lower risk of language and social delays compared to those breastfed for less than six months. Partial breastfeeding also reduced the risk by 14%.
In sibling comparisons, those breastfed for six months or more had a 9% lower risk of developmental delays and 27% less likelihood of being diagnosed with NDCs compared to their siblings who were breastfed for a shorter period or not at all.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding with the introduction of solid foods. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports this as vital for public health.
While this study cannot prove causality, it adds to evidence suggesting that breastfeeding may benefit neurological development. Breastfeeding for six months was linked to a 28% reduction in language-related NDCs and a 24% reduction in motor NDCs. The benefits plateaued after 10-12 months.
While autism diagnoses have been increasing, the researchers say more studies are needed to understand the full impact of breastfeeding on neurodevelopment.
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