A newborn babies first stool can alert doctors if they are at risk for problems with intelligence and reasoning in later life, according to a new study.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University said that high levels of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) found in the meconium (a newborn’s first stool) from a mother’s alcohol use during pregnancy can tell if a child is at risk for problems with intelligence and reasoning.
Parents love everything about their newborn, apart from one thing. No matter how adorable the little one’s every gesture is one thing makes every new parent a little squeamish.
Are you one of those, who creep out every time your little one is done the deed and you need to change the nappy and dispose of them with disgust? Well, reading this might change your mind next time you see baby’s faecal matters.
Recent research has shown that faeces has an interesting link to baby’s IQ and their cognitive skills. According to a study published in Biological Psychiatry, researchers found an association between certain kinds of microbial communities and higher levels of cognitive development later stages of life.
Here are some key takeaways from the study that mums and dads will find interesting!
1. Babies with a certain type of bacteria in their poop excel in cognitive tests. Researchers examined the poop samples of 100 babies, all one year old. They found that those with less diverse microbiomes and lots of bacteroides scored higher in cognitive tests by age two.
“This is the first time an association between microbial communities and cognitive development has been demonstrated in humans,” explains Rebecca Knickmeyer of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in a statament.
They assessed the babies using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. This is a series of developmental tests that involve examining fine and gross motor skills, perceptual abilities, and language development.
2. Probiotics could affect brain development before the age of one. We’re not really at the point where we can say, “Let’s give everyone a certain probiotic,” clarify the researchers in the statement.
But their findings shed light on the crucial role a baby’s gut bacteria plays in brain development before the age of one.
“These results suggest you may be able to guide the development of the microbiome to optimize cognitive development or reduce the risk for disorders like autism which can include problems with cognition and language,” say the researchers.
3. This raises the question: Can bacteria communicate with a baby’s developing brain? “Are the bacteria actually ‘communicating’ with the developing brain?” wonders Knickmeyer. “That’s something that we are working on now, so we’re looking at some signaling pathways that might be involved.”
She also presents another theory: that the type of bacteria in baby poop is just a substitute or bridge between another factor in brain development. For instance, this could be a baby’s diet and nutrition.
4. This is just the first of many more discoveries. This study has no precedent. It is the first to explore the connection between brain development and gut bacteria found in poop.
All these claims may seem far-fetched. And a wider pool of candidates might have to be tested to cement these claims. But researchers are confident this is the first step to more promising discoveries.
For mums and dads, it’s always interesting to find new ways to get to know their little one better, even if it’s lurking in their diapers!