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Study shows no long-term cognitive benefit to breastfeeding

Posted at 5:54 AM, Mar 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-28 06:07:55-04

(CNN) - A new study finds breastfeeding has little impact on long-term cognitive development and behavior.

The study, published in the journal pediatrics, followed nearly 7,500 Irish children born full term, from the time they were 9-months-old.

They were then evaluated at three years and again at five years of age.

The researchers found that children breast-fed for six months or more had lower rates of hyperactivity and improved problem-solving skills at three.

But those differences were negligible by the time the child turned five.

Like many other studies, long-term benefits have been associated with breastfeeding.

But once socio-economic factors, such as education and income are accounted for, the differences between those children who were breast-fed and those who weren't are negligible.

Courtesy CNN Newsource