Maternal anemia linked to 4% smaller infant brains and potential learning gaps
A new study shows babies born to mothers with mild anemia have about 4% smaller brains, especially in areas tied to movement and cognition, from age one onward.
A joint investigation by King’s College London and the University of Cape Town followed more than 300 pregnant women in Cape Town, comparing brain development of their infants with both high-field and new portable low-field MRI scanners. Babies born to mothers diagnosed with mild anemia had, on average, a total brain volume 4% smaller than those of non-anemic mothers, with pronounced reductions in the putamen, caudate nucleus and corpus callosum; the disparity grew from roughly 4% at 12 months to about 6% by 24 months.
Researchers associate these regions with processing speed, emotion regulation and executive function, suggesting the structural gaps may become cognitive deficits when children start school. The findings highlight the need for routine anemia screening and iron supplementation—oral or intravenous—particularly in high-risk regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Additionally, the study validates low-field MRI as a sensitive, portable tool for detecting nutrition-related brain changes in challenging environments.
Why it matters
Maternal anemia may impair early brain growth, affecting children's future learning and health, underscoring the need for better screening and nutrition.
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