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Editorial
August 2014

Beneficial or Neutral Effect of Breastfeeding on Cognitive Outcomes in Children of Mothers With Epilepsy?

Author Affiliations
  • 1Division of Epilepsy and Electroencephalography, Department of Neurology, Hofstra North Shore–Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, Hempstead, New York
  • 2Cushing Neuroscience Institute, Brain and Spine Specialists of New York, North Shore–Long Island Jewish Health System, Great Neck, New York
JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(8):699-700. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.420

The latest report from the Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (NEAD) study group1 on the association of breastfeeding with cognitive outcomes in children born to mothers with epilepsy taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is fascinating. The investigators assessed the IQ in children aged 6 years who had been exposed to AEDs in utero and used linear regression as the primary analysis. The analysis included adjustment for other known influences on IQ outcomes reported by these investigators and others, including maternal IQ, specific AED monotherapy, a standardized AED dosage, and the use of periconception folate.

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