Breastfeeding And ADHD

Advocates of breastfeeding have always said that breastfeeding helps to promote better bonding between the mother and her baby. Not only does the act of breastfeeding relax the mother, it also provides the baby with a warm and secure environment. This helps to improve the baby's sense of safety and security, and therewith the baby's brain power.

Apart from this, there are many other benefits of breastfeeding the babies. Now, there is another addition in the list of these benefits. In one of the first of its kind research, it has been shown that breastfed babies are less likely to develop ADHD. Why might that be? 

The likelihood of developing ADHD in children is inversely proportional to the duration of breastfeeding

A study, published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine, has found that children who are breastfed are less likely to develop ADHD, the symptoms of which can be identified a little later in life. What's more, the longer the duration of breastfeeding, the less likely it becomes that a child will develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The research was led by scientists from the Schneider’s Children Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel. They did a retrospective research project on 50 children who had been diagnosed as suffering from ADHD at the hospital between 2008 and 2009. All the children were around the age of 6 to 12 years.

This test group was compared to a set of control groups.

The first control group was made up of healthy and typically developing children who had siblings suffering from ADHD. This group was similar to the test group in their genetic and environmental background, making it a good control group.

The second control group included healthy and typically developing children with no family history of ADHD. The age of the children in the control group matched the children in the test group.

The parents of all the children were asked to fill out an extensive questionnaire which contained questions regarding their demographic, medical and perinatal findings. The history of breastfeeding of the children during the first year of their lives was also noted. The parents were also asked to fill out a validated adult ADHD screening questionnaire.

Researchers noticed that the likelihood of developing ADHD in children was inversely proportional to the duration of breastfeeding. In other words, the longer the child was breastfed, the lower the chance that they would be diagnosed with ADHD later in life. Among the children in the test group (those who had been diagnosed with ADHD), only 43 percent had been breastfed till they were 3 months old. Among the test groups, 69 percent of the children with a sibling who had been diagnosed with ADHD had been breastfed until they were 3 months old. In contrast, 73 percent of the children with no history of ADHD in the family had been breastfed until three months old.

It was also seen that 50 percent of children with a sibling suffering from ADHD had been breastfed until they were six months old. This percentage was as high as 57 percent in cases of children from the second control group where there was no family history of ADHD.

On the basis of these results, the researchers have concluded that breastfeeding offers partial protection against the development of ADHD.

Childhood ADHD Is A Chronic Problem Which Often Persists In Adulthood

In a research published in the journal Pediatrics in March this year, the researchers found that childhood ADHD is a chronic health condition which usually continues in adulthood. Even in children where symptoms of ADHD abate, there is an increased likelihood of other psychiatric disorders.

For their study, the researchers followed all the children born in Rochester between 1976 and 1982 who continued to live in the same place till they were five years old. Of the 5,718 children, 367 were diagnosed as suffering from ADHD. A total of 75 percent of these children received treatment for ADHD as kids.

The researchers noticed that 29 percent of children who suffered from ADHD as kids went on to suffer from the disease in their adulthood. 57% of these children suffered from at least one psychiatric disorder compared to children who never suffered from ADHD.

The researchers also noticed that mortality due to suicide was also five times more likely in adults who continued with childhood ADHD.

Among the various psychiatric disorders seen in adults suffering from ADHD, the most common ones included:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Personality disorders
• Substance abuse
• Hypomaniac episodes

This study confirms the fact that ADHD should not be taken lightly. Parents who have kids with ADHD should ensure that they get proper treatment and that the treatment is continued beyond their childhood.

The prevalence of ADHD has been steadily rising

ADHD is the most common neuro-developmental disorder seen in children. Statistics provided by the center of disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that its prevalence among school going children is as high as 11 percent and has been steadily increasing for the past two decades. It has to be noted that increased awareness, leading to more correct diagnoses being made, must account for part of this.

The major risk factors of the disease include:

• Family history of ADHD
• Brain injury
• Exposure to chemicals like lead
• Premature delivery

Children suffering from ADHD benefit from medicines and behavioral therapy but there is no cure of the disease. So, scientists are always on a lookout for ways to prevent the development of the condition.

Apart from reducing the risk of developing ADHD, breastfeeding has other benefits too

Studies have shown that breastfeeding has multiple benefits for both the mother and her baby. Some of these benefits include:

Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby:

• Breast milk has several antibodies which reduce the incidence of respiratory illnesses like asthma, allergies, ear infections and diarrhea.
• Due to its easy digestibility, the incidence of constipation in breast milk fed babies is very low.
• Better bonding with the mother because of skin to skin contact and eye contact.
• Studies show that breastfed babies have higher IQs.
• The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is low in these babies.
• Breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing conditions like diabetes, cancers and obesity.
• The nutrition provided by the way of breast milk is ideal for the baby. It has the right mixture of vitamins, proteins and fat.

Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother:

• It helps the mother to bond better with the baby
• It helps her to lose pregnancy weight faster. About 500 calories are lost by breastfeeding every day.
• There is reduced risk of post-partum hemorrhage.
• Lowered risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
• Lowered risk of osteoporosis.
• Reduced expenditure. Infant formula can cost a lot.