Birth weight and cognitive function in young adult life: historical cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation between birth weight and cognitive function in young adult life.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study based on birth registry data and cognitive function measured during evaluation for military service.


METHODS
4300 Danish conscripts born between 1973 and 1975.


METHODS
Mean score in the Boerge Prien test of cognitive function; score is the number of correct answers to 78 questions and correlates with full scale intelligence quotient (IQ).


RESULTS
Mean score in the Boerge Prien test increased from 39.9 at a birth weight of < or = 2500 g to 44.6 at a birth weight of 4200 g even after adjustment for gestational age and length at birth, maternal age and parity, and other variables. Above a birth weight of 4200 g the test score decreased slightly.


CONCLUSIONS
Birth weight is associated with cognitive performance in young adult life. Interference with fetal growth may influence adult cognitive performance.
Sørensen
H T
HT
Department of Internal Medicine V, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. HTS@soci.aau.dk
Sabroe
S
S
Olsen
J
J
Rothman
K J
KJ
Gillman
M W
MW
Fischer
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies