title: The Association Between Breastfeeding Exposure and Duration, Neuropsychological Deficits, and Psychopathic Personality Traits in Offspring: The Moderating Role of 5HTTLPR.
abstract: A wealth of research has revealed that a shorter duration of breastfeeding during infancy can increase the risk of various maladaptive traits, including neuropsychological deficits. Despite the number of studies that have been conducted on the topic, few studies have explored whether the effects of breastfeeding on neuropsychological functioning and personality features persist into adulthood. Furthermore, very little research to date has examined whether this relationship is moderated by specific indicators of genetic risk. The current study examines the direct and interactive effects of breastfeeding experiences and the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5HTTLPR) on neuropsychological deficits and psychopathic personality traits. Using data from the National Longitudinal study of Adolescent Health, we find that no exposure to breastfeeding and a shorter duration of breastfeeding significantly increase the risk of exhibiting neuropsychological deficits during adolescence and early adulthood as well as psychopathic personality traits during adulthood. The results also reveal a number of gene × environment interactions between 5HTTLPR, breastfeeding exposure and breastfeeding duration in the prediction of neuropsychological deficits, but not in the prediction of psychopathic personality traits.
authors.affiliation: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA. dbj09@my.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Dylan B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA. kbeaver@fsu.edu.|King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. kbeaver@fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Beaver
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009769:Object Attachment; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012951:Socialization; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
keywords: 5HTTLPR; Breastfeeding; Genetic risk; Moderating effects; Neuropsychological deficits; Psychopathic personality traits; Serotonin transporter