The Guardian: Maternal anemia is associated with smaller brain volume in babies at birth

Babies born to mothers who had anemia during pregnancy had an overall brain volume that was, on average, 4% smaller than that of babies born to women without anemia. The differences affected regions involved in movement, learning, and emotional regulation and became more pronounced during the first two years of life. These findings were reported by researchers from King’s College London and the University of Cape Town, as reported by The Guardian.

The scientists followed more than 300 mothers and their children in Cape Town. The babies’ brains were scanned several times between the ages of three months and two years. All of the women with anemia had mild cases of the condition.

The most pronounced differences were found in the putamen, caudate nucleus, and corpus callosum.

“The latter connects the two hemispheres of the brain and is involved in transmitting information between them. For example, the corpus callosum volume in children born to mothers with anemia was about 4% smaller at 12 months, and by age two, the gap had reached 6%,” the researchers calculated.

According to the researchers, the differences identified may be associated with subsequent problems with cognitive development. Previous studies in South Africa have shown that children born to mothers with anemia performed worse on some developmental tests, while differences in brain volume persisted into school age.

Anemia affects more than one-third of pregnant women worldwide and is often associated with iron deficiency. Infections, including HIV, can also contribute to the development of the condition.

The authors note that the findings highlight the importance of detecting and treating anemia in women of reproductive age, particularly during pregnancy. When necessary, iron supplements may be used to correct iron deficiency.