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Breastfeeding, cognitive ability, and residual confounding: A comment on studies by Pereyra-Elìas et al

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  • Kimmo Sorjonen
  • Gustav Nilsonne
  • Michael Ingre
  • Bo Melin

Abstract

Recent studies found positive effects of breastfeeding on the child’s cognitive ability and educational outcomes even when adjusting for maternal cognitive ability in addition to a large number of other potential confounders. The authors claimed an important role of breastfeeding for the child’s cognitive scores. However, it is well known that error in the measurement of confounders can leave room for residual confounding. In the present reanalyses, we found incongruent effects indicating simultaneous increasing and decreasing effects of breastfeeding on the child’s cognitive ability and educational outcomes. We conclude that findings in the reanalyses may have been due to residual confounding due to error in the measurement of maternal cognitive ability. Consequently, it appears premature to assume a genuine increasing effect of breastfeeding on the child’s cognitive ability and educational outcomes and claims in this regard may be challenged.

Suggested Citation

  • Kimmo Sorjonen & Gustav Nilsonne & Michael Ingre & Bo Melin, 2024. "Breastfeeding, cognitive ability, and residual confounding: A comment on studies by Pereyra-Elìas et al," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0297216
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297216
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jacob Westfall & Tal Yarkoni, 2016. "Statistically Controlling for Confounding Constructs Is Harder than You Think," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, March.
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