title: Association between breastfeeding duration and cognitive development, autistic traits and ADHD symptoms: a multicenter study in Spain.
abstract: Several studies have related longer breastfeeding duration to better intellectual performance in children. By contrast, few studies have investigated the potential protective effects of breastfeeding against behavioral problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and even fewer on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) traits.
  
  
  
  We examined the association between breastfeeding duration and cognitive development, attention, ADHD symptoms, and autistic traits using data from the INMA Project, a Spanish multicenter birth-cohort study, and taking into account the intensity of breastfeeding. Duration of any, predominant, and exclusive breastfeeding was documented during infancy through maternal questionnaires. Children (N = 1,346; mean age = 4.9 y) were assessed using the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities, Conners' Kiddie Continuous Performance Test, criteria of the DSM-ADHD symptoms form list, and the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test.
  
  
  
  After adjustment for several confounders, longer duration of breastfeeding was independently associated with better cognitive development and with fewer autistic traits.
  
  
  
  This study provides further evidence of a positive association of breastfeeding with cognitive function apart from socio-environmental factors, and also suggests a protective role against autistic traits. Results are in agreement with recommendations for prolonged breastfeeding duration to promote child development.
authors.affiliation: Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.|Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.|Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Julvez
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.|Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.|Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mònica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guxens
authors.affiliation: BIODONOSTIA, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, San Sebastián, Spain.|Facultad de Psicología, UPV-EHU. San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arranz
authors.affiliation: Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|BIODONOSTIA, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, San Sebastián, Spain.|Subdirección Salud Publica Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ibarluzea
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Psicología, UPV-EHU. San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez de Miguel
authors.affiliation: Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Somoano
authors.affiliation: Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Adonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tardon
authors.affiliation: Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|University Jaume I, Castellón, Spain.|FISABIO-UJI-University of Valencia Joint Research Unit, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rebagliato
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.|Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Esteban
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.|Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Giselle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|FISABIO-UJI-University of Valencia Joint Research Unit, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.affiliation: Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.|Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.|Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.|Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunyer
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors