La lactancia materna: el impulso natural para un cerebro en desarrollo

The first years of life are a critical period for maturation of the central nervous system. The study therefore aimed to analyse the relationship between breastfeeding and child neurodevelopment, considering the evidence on cognition, behaviour and brain development. A narrative literature review of publications from 2015 to 2025 was conducted, with a sample of trials, cohorts, meta-analyses and reviews. Breastfeeding is associated with an intelligence quotient about three points higher, greater white matter development and better language and memory outcomes, effects attributed to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, sialic acid, oligosaccharides and the mother-child bond, although most of the evidence is observational. It was concluded that exclusive breastfeeding should be prioritised in public health.