Abstract

Overview

Investigating the impact of maternal cell phone use during pregnancy, this study analyzes its association with cognitive performance in children by age 5.

Background

Few studies have previously addressed the connection between maternal mobile usage and cognitive outcomes in children, most of which did not explore effects beyond age 3. This study extends to age 5, incorporating data from three birth cohorts across diverse geographical regions.

Methods

• Includes data from Danish National Birth Cohort, Spanish Environment and Childhood Project, and Korean Mothers and Children's Environment Health Study.
• Cognitive performance assessed at age 5 years using linear regression while adjusting for confounders across individual and pooled cohort data.

Findings

Results indicate no direct associations between maternal cell phone use frequency during pregnancy and cognition scores in children, though scores were generally lower at higher usage frequencies. However, these differences were statistically imprecise and without established causality.

Conclusion

While high-frequency maternal cell phone use during pregnancy correlates with lower cognition scores at age 5, the cause and mechanisms remain undetermined. Urgency persists in continuing research given the widespread nature of cell phone use and potential implications for public health.