Brain growth in babies liked to mothers’ �investment�

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Brain growth in babies liked to mothers’ â€investmentâ€

A new Durham University research has revealed that brain growth in babies is

linked to the amount of time and energy mothers â€invest’‘.

The study of 128 mammal species, including humans, shows that brain growth in

babies is determined by the duration of pregnancy and how long they suckle.

The research concludes that the longer the pregnancy and breastfeeding period in

mammals, the bigger the babyâ€s brain grows.

The researchers say the findings reinforce the suggestion that breast is best

for brain development and add further weight to the World Health

Organisationâ€s advice of six months†exclusive breastfeeding followed by

continuing breastfeeding up to the age of two or beyond supplemented with solid

foods.

The study helps to explain why humans, who suckle their babies for up to three

years in addition to their nine-month pregnancies, have such a long period of

dependency as this is necessary to support the growth of our enormous 1300cc

brains.

In comparison, species such as fallow deer, which are about the same body weight

as humans, are only pregnant for seven months with a suckling period of up to

six months, resulting in brains of only 220cc, six times smaller than the human

brain.

The study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences.