According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers have found a link between the maternal consumption of seafood and the neuropsychological development of children. The study was conducted to shed light to specific seafood subtypes within the general thought that seafood consumption during pregnancy is thought to be beneficial for child neuropsychological development.

The study included 1,892 and 1,589 mother and child pairs at the ages of 14 months and five years old, respectively, in a population-based Spanish birth cohort established during 2004-2008. The researchers accounted for sociodemographic characteristics, umbilical cord blood mercury or long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations.

The results included a positive association between lean fish and neuropsychological scores. Additionally, consumption of large fatty fish during pregnancy presents moderate child neuropsychological benefits, including improvements in cognitive functioning and some protection from autism-spectrum traits.

For more information read the full study.

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/01/05/aje.kwv195.full