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Associations between infant growth and cognitive development: Insights from EEG functional connectivity and power spectral density

Hartjen, Berit, Kakon, Shahria, Rahman, Navin, Greaves, Garrett, Xie, Wanze, Tofail, Fahmida, Forrester, Terrence, O’Sullivan, Justin, Haque, Rashidul, Nelson, Charles A·2026·Child Development
DOI 10.1093/chidev/aacag006
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Abstract

Malnutrition is a critical global health challenge, contributing to nearly half of child deaths under 5 and impairing physical and mental health, along with neural and cognitive development. Prior research has linked growth faltering to altered EEG functional connectivity (FC) and poorer cognitive outcomes, though findings varied across ages. This study (2022–2024) examined associations between nutritional status (approximated by growth z-scores) and brain development in 12-month-old Bangladeshi infants (N = 140; 80 males, 60 females) using EEG. Growth faltering was associated with reduced theta and alpha power, which related to cognitive delays. Power mediated the malnutrition-behavior associations. These findings underscore the potential of early nutritional and psychosocial interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of an inadequate growth environment on neurocognitive development.

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Cited by

Metadata

Authors
Hartjen, B., Kakon, S., Rahman, N., Greaves, G., Xie, W., Tofail, F., Forrester, T., O’Sullivan, J., Haque, R., & Nelson, C. A.
Venue
Child Development
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2026-03-13
Volume
97
Issue
3
Pages
738-754
ISSN
1467-8624
DOI
10.1093/chidev/aacag006
Cited by
2
References
9
Language
en
Licence
academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights (vor)
Funders
Wellcome Leap 1kD Program

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