Birth month and infant gross motor development: results from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Yasumitsu-Lovell, K., Thompson, L. , Fernell, E., Eitoku, M., Suganuma, N. and Gillberg, C. (2021) Birth month and infant gross motor development: results from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). PLoS ONE, 16(5), e0251581. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251581) (PMID:34014944) (PMCID:PMC8136702)

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Abstract

The association between birth month and neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders has been investigated in a number of previous studies; however, the results have been inconsistent. This study investigated the association between birth month and child gross motor development at 6 and 12 months of age in a large cohort of infants (n = 72,203) participating in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). Gross motor development was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). At 6 months and 12 months, 20.7% and 14.2%, respectively, had ASQ-3 indications of gross motor problems. Birth month was strongly associated with gross motor development at both time points, particularly at 6 months. Summer-born infants had the worst outcomes at both 6 months and 12 months of age. This outcome applied to the ASQ-3 score itself and to the adjusted Relative Risk (aRR), with the highest aRRs (relative to January-born) among August-born (aRR 2.51; 95%CI 2.27–2.78 at 6 months), and June-born (aRR 1.84; 95%CI 1.63–2.09 at 12 months). Boys had better scores than girls both at 6 and 12 months of age. We speculate that seasonal factors—such as maternal vitamin D deficiency and influenza infection—affecting the fetus in early pregnancy might account for the findings.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The Japan Environment and Children’s Study is funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Thompson, Dr Lucy and Gillberg, Professor Christopher
Creator Roles:
Thompson, L.Formal analysis, Supervision, Writing – review and editing
Gillberg, C.Investigation, Supervision, Writing – review and editing
Authors: Yasumitsu-Lovell, K., Thompson, L., Fernell, E., Eitoku, M., Suganuma, N., and Gillberg, C.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
Journal Name:PLoS ONE
Publisher:Public Library of Science
ISSN:1932-6203
ISSN (Online):1932-6203
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2021 Yasumitsu-Lovell et al.
First Published:First published in PLoS ONE 16(5): e0251581
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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