By Team INVC | INVC NEWS
LONDON, United Kingdom | September 9, 2026 —
Anemia in Pregnancy and Baby Brain Development may be more closely connected than previously understood, according to new research showing measurable differences in brain volume among infants exposed to maternal anemia before birth.
Researchers from King’s College London and the University of Cape Town found that babies born to people who experienced anemia during pregnancy had, on average, around 4% smaller total brain volume than babies whose mothers were not anemic.
The findings are particularly notable because most cases of anemia in the study were mild.
Researchers followed 394 mother-infant pairs in Cape Town, South Africa, with a subgroup of children undergoing repeated brain scans between approximately three months and two years of age.
The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Brain Communications.
Researchers stressed that the findings show an association rather than proof that anemia directly causes smaller brain size or future neurological problems.
Brain Differences Became Detectable From Around 12 Months
The research team used MRI scans to examine how infants’ brains developed during the first two years of life.
According to the study, measurable differences in brain volume became apparent from around 12 months of age.
By comparing infants exposed to anemia during pregnancy with those who were not, researchers identified differences not only in overall brain volume but also in several specific structures.
These included the corpus callosum, caudate nucleus and putamen.
Each of these brain regions plays an important role in neurological development.
The corpus callosum connects the brain’s two hemispheres and helps them communicate.
The caudate nucleus and putamen contribute to processes involving movement, learning, executive function, emotional regulation and other cognitive activities.
Corpus Callosum Difference Increased With Age
One of the study’s particularly interesting findings involved the corpus callosum.
At around 12 months, the structure was approximately 4% smaller among infants exposed to maternal anemia.
By 24 months, researchers reported that the difference had increased to approximately 6%.
The new findings build on earlier research from the same South African research program.
Previous studies found similar differences in the corpus callosum and caudate nucleus among children at ages two to three and again at six to seven years.
This consistency has prompted researchers to examine whether nutritional conditions during pregnancy may have lasting implications for early brain development.
Even Mild Anemia Was Associated With Differences
Another important element of the latest research is the severity of anemia among study participants.
Most pregnant people diagnosed with anemia in the cohort had relatively mild cases.
Nevertheless, researchers still observed measurable differences in infant brain structure.
That finding suggests that scientists may need to look more closely at anemia prevention and treatment during pregnancy rather than focusing only on severe cases.
However, the study should not be interpreted to mean that mild anemia will inevitably affect a child’s intelligence, behavior or neurological health.
Brain development depends on many interacting factors.
Study Does Not Prove Anemia Caused the Brain Differences
The researchers conducted an observational cohort study.
That means they identified an association between maternal anemia and infant brain structure, but the study cannot establish that anemia alone caused the differences.
Pregnancy and childhood development can be influenced by many factors, including nutrition, infections, socioeconomic conditions, genetics and access to healthcare.
Some populations can also face several of these factors simultaneously.
Researchers therefore adjusted their analyses for potential influences, but observational research cannot eliminate every possible confounding factor.
This distinction is particularly important when interpreting medical research involving pregnancy.
A difference in brain volume does not automatically translate into a developmental disability or intellectual impairment.
Why Iron Matters During Pregnancy
Anemia occurs when the blood does not contain enough healthy red blood cells or adequate hemoglobin to deliver oxygen effectively throughout the body.
Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes.
During pregnancy, iron requirements increase because the body must support increased blood volume as well as fetal and placental development.
Insufficient iron can contribute to lower hemoglobin levels.
However, iron deficiency is not the only cause of anemia.
Infections, inflammation, nutritional deficiencies and certain medical conditions can also contribute.
For that reason, people who are pregnant should not assume that every case of anemia requires exactly the same treatment.
Clinical evaluation can help determine the cause and appropriate management.
More Than One-Third of Pregnancies Worldwide Affected
Anemia during pregnancy remains a major global public-health challenge.
King’s College London noted that it affects more than one-third of pregnant people worldwide, with particularly high rates in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
That makes the latest findings important beyond the South African cohort itself.
If future research confirms that preventing or treating anemia can improve aspects of early brain development, relatively accessible maternal-health interventions could potentially have substantial public-health benefits.
However, researchers say intervention studies will be needed to determine whether treating anemia changes the brain-development outcomes observed in this research.
Portable MRI Could Expand Research in Lower-Resource Settings
The study also tested an important new medical-imaging approach.
Researchers used both a conventional 3 Tesla MRI scanner and a portable 64 millitesla ultra-low-field MRI system.
The portable scanner requires less infrastructure and can be brought closer to communities where large hospital MRI systems may not be readily available.
It is also quieter, allowing researchers to scan sleeping infants without sedation in many cases.
Scientists found that the technology could detect meaningful brain-development differences.
That could make large-scale neurological research more accessible in regions where conventional MRI equipment is limited.
Earlier Studies Found Similar Patterns Years Later
The latest findings fit with earlier work involving children from South Africa.
Research published previously found maternal anemia during pregnancy was associated with smaller volumes in the caudate, putamen and corpus callosum when children reached ages two to three.
A subsequent study involving children aged six to seven years found that differences in the corpus callosum and caudate nucleus could still be detected.
The consistency across several age groups has strengthened researchers’ interest in understanding what happens during pregnancy and the earliest years of brain development.
What Should Expectant Parents Take From the Study?
The study should not be a reason for panic.
It does not show that every baby exposed to anemia during pregnancy will have a smaller brain, cognitive impairment or developmental disorder.
Instead, it adds evidence that maternal nutrition and hemoglobin levels may be important factors in early neurological development.
Routine prenatal care commonly includes blood testing that can identify anemia.
Anyone diagnosed with anemia during pregnancy should discuss the underlying cause and appropriate treatment with a qualified healthcare professional rather than starting or changing iron supplements independently.
The researchers say the broader goal is to understand whether better prevention and treatment before and during pregnancy can give children the strongest possible foundation for healthy development.
For now, the latest research adds another reason to take Anemia in Pregnancy and Baby Brain Development seriously while avoiding conclusions that the study itself cannot support.
