Breastfeeding for Six Months Linked to Lower ADHD Risk in Children: Study - Video

Exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months may be associated with a lower risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms during early childhood, according to a new study from the University of Bergen.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 37,600 families participating in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). They examined whether the duration of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life was linked to ADHD symptoms at ages three, five, and eight years.

The findings showed that children who were exclusively breastfed for longer periods had lower levels of ADHD symptoms throughout childhood. The association was observed in both boys and girls and was strongest at ages three and five, although it remained evident, though weaker, at age eight. Researchers also found that while any breastfeeding was associated with lower ADHD symptoms, the strongest relationship was seen with exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months.

Because ADHD has a strong genetic component, the researchers accounted for several potential confounding factors, including genetic risk for ADHD, maternal ADHD symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics. They also performed sibling analyses, comparing children within the same family who had different breastfeeding durations.

Even after these adjustments, exclusive breastfeeding remained associated with a modest reduction in ADHD symptoms, suggesting that factors beyond genetics may contribute to neurodevelopment.

The researchers caution that the study was observational and cannot prove that breastfeeding directly prevents ADHD

The team says further research is needed to determine whether the relationship is causal and to better understand how breastfeeding may influence early brain development and the risk of ADHD symptoms later in childhood.

REFERENCE: Solberg, B. S., et al. (2026). Breastfeeding and Development of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms Across Childhood. Biological Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2026.06.009. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632232601348X?via=ihub