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INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RESTRICTION |
BMJ. 1996 Jun 1;312(7043):1393-6.
Growth in utero and cognitive function in adult life: follow up study of
people born between 1920 and 1943.
Martyn CN, Gale CR, Sayer AA, Fall C.
MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton
General Hospital.
OBJECTIVES--To examine the relation between fetal growth and cognitive
function in adult life. DESIGN--A follow up study of men and women whose
birth weights and other measurements of body size had been recorded at
birth. SETTING--Hertfordshire, Preston, and Sheffield. SUBJECTS--1576 men
and women born in Hertfordshire, Sheffield, or Preston between 1920 and
1943. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Intelligence quotient as measured by the AH4
test and amount of decline in cognitive function with age as estimated by
the difference between score on the Mill Hill vocabulary test and score on
the AH4 test. RESULTS--Score on the intelligence test was higher in people
who had a large biparietal head diameter at birth, but it was not related to
any other measure of body size or proportions. No association was found
between decline in cognitive function and any measure of size or proportions
at birth. CONCLUSION--Impaired fetal growth was not associated with poorer
cognitive performance in adult life. Adaptations made by the fetus in
response to conditions that retard its growth seem to be largely successful
in maintaining brain development.
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