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Babies born to mothers with anaemia have smaller brains, particularly in key regions linked to movement, learning, and emotion regulation, according to a study. Researchers found these differences first detected at age one could lead to cognitive problems when children start school. Over a third of pregnant women worldwide have anaemia, a condition typically caused by iron deficiency.
Rates are highest in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Researchers from King’s College London and the University of Cape Town followed over 300 mothers and babies in Cape Town, scanning infants between three months and two years. On average, babies born to anaemic mothers had 4% less total brain volume than those born to non-anaemic mothers.
Differences were recorded in the putamen, caudate nucleus, and corpus callosum, regions linked to processing speed, emotion regulation, and executive function. The gap widened over the first two years, with the corpus callosum being 4% smaller at 12 months and 6% smaller by 24 months. Earlier studies in South Africa showed comparable brain volume differences in toddlers and school-age children, persisting until six years old.
The findings explain why children born to anaemic mothers often score lower on developmental tests. The mothers were otherwise similar in income and food security, supporting the conclusion that maternal anaemia caused the observed brain differences. The study recommends screening for anaemia and iron deficiency during pregnancy, with oral or intravenous iron supplementation where needed.
Anaemia’s causes include infectious diseases, with higher rates in women living with HIV. The World Health Organization lists reducing anaemia as a priority, but progress has stalled. Researchers used new, portable MRI scanners to detect brain differences, proving their technology can assess malnutrition’s impact on the developing brain in challenging environments.
Source: The Guardian
