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Lubrano C, Parisi F, Cetin I. Impact of Maternal Environment and Inflammation on Fetal Neurodevelopment. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:453. [PMID: 38671901 PMCID: PMC11047368 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13040453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
During intrauterine life, external stimuli including maternal nutrition, lifestyle, socioeconomic conditions, anxiety, stress, and air pollution can significantly impact fetal development. The human brain structures begin to form in the early weeks of gestation and continue to grow and mature throughout pregnancy. This review aims to assess, based on the latest research, the impact of environmental factors on fetal and neonatal brain development, showing that oxidative stress and inflammation are implied as a common factor for most of the stressors. Environmental insults can induce a maternal inflammatory state and modify nutrient supply to the fetus, possibly through epigenetic mechanisms, leading to significant consequences for brain morphogenesis and neurological outcomes. These risk factors are often synergic and mutually reinforcing. Fetal growth restriction and preterm birth represent paradigms of intrauterine reduced nutrient supply and inflammation, respectively. These mechanisms can lead to an increase in free radicals and, consequently, oxidative stress, with well-known adverse effects on the offspring's neurodevelopment. Therefore, a healthy intrauterine environment is a critical factor in supporting normal fetal brain development. Hence, healthcare professionals and clinicians should implement effective interventions to prevent and reduce modifiable risk factors associated with an increased inflammatory state and decreased nutrient supply during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lubrano
- Nutritional Sciences, Doctoral Programme (PhD), Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy;
- Department of Mother, Child and Neonate, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Parisi
- Department of Mother, Child and Neonate, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy;
| | - Irene Cetin
- Department of Mother, Child and Neonate, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy;
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Spowart KM, Reilly K, Mactier H, Hamilton R. Executive functioning, behavioural, emotional, and cognitive difficulties in school-aged children prenatally exposed to methadone. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1118634. [PMID: 37144152 PMCID: PMC10151701 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1118634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim The aim of this study was to examine executive function and emotional and behavioural difficulties of children aged between 8 and 10 years who had been prenatally exposed to methadone, compared to non-exposed peers. Methods Prospective study: third follow-up of an original cohort of 153 children born to methadone-maintained opioid-dependent mothers 2008-2010: previous investigations were at 1-3 days and at 6-7 months of age. Carers completed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF®2). Results were compared between exposed and non-exposed groups. Results Carers of 33 of 144 traceable children completed the measures. SDQ responses showed no group differences on subscales of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, or peer relationship problems. A marginally higher proportion of exposed children had a high or very high hyperactivity subscale score. Exposed children scored significantly higher on BRIEF®2 behavioural, emotional, and cognitive regulation indices, and on the global executive composite. After controlling for potentially confounding higher reported maternal tobacco use in the exposed group via regression modelling, the effect of methadone exposure reduced. Interpretation This study supports evidence that methadone exposure in utero is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood. Challenges in studying this population include difficulties with long-term follow-up and controlling for potentially confounding factors. Further investigation of the safety of methadone and other opioids in pregnancy must include consideration of maternal tobacco use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Spowart
- Specialist Children’s Services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kasey Reilly
- Specialist Children’s Services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Mactier
- Princess Royal Maternity, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Hamilton
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Physics and Bioengineering, Royal Hospital for Children, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Correspondence: Ruth Hamilton
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Knopik VS, Micalizzi L, Marceau K, Loviska AM, Yu L, Bien A, Rolan E, Evans AS, Palmer RHC, Heath AC. The roles of familial transmission and smoking during pregnancy on executive function skills: A sibling-comparison study. Dev Psychopathol 2022; 34:1-13. [PMID: 36039978 PMCID: PMC10710697 DOI: 10.1017/s095457942200075x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
This research examines maternal smoking during pregnancy and risk for poorer executive function in siblings discordant for exposure. Data (N = 173 families) were drawn from the Missouri Mothers and Their Children study, a sample, identified using birth records (years 1998-2005), in which mothers changed smoking behavior between two pregnancies (Child 1 [older sibling]: M age = 12.99; Child 2 [younger sibling]: M age = 10.19). A sibling comparison approach was used, providing a robust test for the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and different aspects of executive function in early-mid adolescence. Results suggested within-family (i.e., potentially causal) associations between maternal smoking during pregnancy and one working memory task (visual working memory) and one response inhibition task (color-word interference), with increased exposure associated with decreased performance. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was not associated with stop-signal reaction time, cognitive flexibility/set-shifting, or auditory working memory. Initial within-family associations between maternal smoking during pregnancy and visual working memory as well as color-word interference were fully attenuated in a model including child and familial covariates. These findings indicate that exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy may be associated with poorer performance on some, but not all skills assessed; however, familial transmission of risk for low executive function appears more important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie S Knopik
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, 1202 West State St, West Lafayette, USA, IN, 47906
| | - Lauren Micalizzi
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Box G-S121-5 Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Box G-S121-5, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Kristine Marceau
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, 1202 West State St, West Lafayette, USA, IN, 47906
| | - Amy M Loviska
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, 1202 West State St, West Lafayette, USA, IN, 47906
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, 1202 West State St, West Lafayette, USA, IN, 47906
| | - Alexandra Bien
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, 1202 West State St, West Lafayette, USA, IN, 47906
| | - Emily Rolan
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 316 Physics Rd., East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Allison S Evans
- Concord Comprehensive Neuropsychological Services, 86 Baker Avenue Extension #301, Concord, MA, 01742, USA
| | - Rohan H C Palmer
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Andrew C Heath
- Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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Karpova N, Zhang D, Beckwith AM, Bennett DS, Lewis M. Prenatal drug exposure and executive function in early adolescence. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 88:107036. [PMID: 34648914 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Study of the relationship between prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and executive function (EF) has yielded inconsistent results. The purpose of the current study is to examine whether PCE, biological sex, environmental risk, and their interaction predicted EF in early adolescence. METHODS 135 12-year-old adolescents (40.7% with PCE), who were followed prospectively from birth, attempted up to 8 Tower of Hanoi (ToH) puzzle trials of increasing complexity. The number of correctly completed puzzles served as the main outcome measure. Survival analysis was used to examine predictors of the number of successfully completed trials. RESULTS As trial difficulty increased, fewer adolescents were able to solve the TOH puzzle. Adolescents from high risk environments and with either prenatal alcohol or prenatal cannabis exposure completed fewer puzzles (p < .05). In addition, a hypothesized 3-way interaction of PCE x sex x environmental risk was found such that cocaine-exposed males with high environmental risk had the worst performance (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS The current findings are consistent with prior research indicating that males with PCE may be at particular risk of poorer functioning and highlight the potential importance of examining adolescent's sex and environmental risk as moderators of PCE effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Karpova
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for the Study of Child Development, Department of Pediatrics, 89 French Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States.
| | - Dake Zhang
- Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Department of Educational Psychology, 10 Seminary Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States.
| | - Anna Malia Beckwith
- Children's Specialized Hospital, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, 150 New Providence Rd, Mountainside, NJ 07092, United States.
| | - David S Bennett
- Drexel University, GLAD Program, 4700 Wissahickon Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144, United States.
| | - Michael Lewis
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for the Study of Child Development, 89 French Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States.
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Piper BJ, Wilcox BD. Never Exposed to Nicotine - But Still Impacting Executive Function. J Pediatr 2020; 221:10-11. [PMID: 32093925 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.01.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Piper
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, Pennsylvania; Center for Pharmacy Innovation & Outcomes, Geisinger Precision Health Center, Forty-Fort, Pennsylvania.
| | - Brian D Wilcox
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Commonwealth Health, Scranton, Pennsylvania
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McGrath-Morrow SA, Gorzkowski J, Groner JA, Rule AM, Wilson K, Tanski SE, Collaco JM, Klein JD. The Effects of Nicotine on Development. Pediatrics 2020; 145:peds.2019-1346. [PMID: 32047098 PMCID: PMC7049940 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-1346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been a significant increase in the use of noncombustible nicotine-containing products, including electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Of increasing popularity are e-cigarettes that can deliver high doses of nicotine over short periods of time. These devices have led to a rise in nicotine addiction in adolescent users who were nonsmokers. Use of noncombustible nicotine products by pregnant mothers is also increasing and can expose the developing fetus to nicotine, a known teratogen. In addition, young children are frequently exposed to secondhand and thirdhand nicotine aerosols generated by e-cigarettes, with little understanding of the effects these exposures can have on health. With the advent of these new nicotine-delivery systems, many concerns have arisen regarding the short- and long-term health effects of nicotine on childhood health during all stages of development. Although health studies on nicotine exposure alone are limited, educating policy makers and health care providers on the potential health effects of noncombustible nicotine is needed because public acceptance of these products has become so widespread. Most studies evaluating the effects of nicotine on health have been undertaken in the context of smoke exposure. Nevertheless, in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies strongly indicate that nicotine exposure alone can adversely affect the nervous, respiratory, immune, and cardiovascular systems, particularly when exposure occurs during critical developmental periods. In this review, we have included both preclinical and clinical studies to identify age-related health effects of nicotine exposure alone, examining the mechanisms underlying these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon A. McGrath-Morrow
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and
| | - Julie Gorzkowski
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois
| | - Judith A. Groner
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Karen Wilson
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Kravis Children’s Hospital, New York, New York
| | - Susanne E. Tanski
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and
| | - Joseph M. Collaco
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and
| | - Jonathan D. Klein
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Roigé-Castellví J, Murphy M, Hernández-Martínez C, Solé-Navais P, Cavallé-Busquets P, Fernández-Ballart J, Ballesteros M, Canals J. The effect of prenatal smoke exposure on child neuropsychological function: a prospective mother-child cohort study. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2019; 38:25-37. [PMID: 30777448 DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2019.1580350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To study prospectively the effect of prenatal smoke exposure (PSE) on child neuropsychological function and intelligence quotient (IQ).Background: PSE has been associated with adverse effects on child neurodevelopment. However, some studies reported that these associations disappear after adjustment for potential confounders.Methods: A cohortof 248 mothers-child dyad was followed from the first trimester of pregnancy until children were 7.5 years old. PSE was recorded during pregnancy by questionnaire and plasma cotinine. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, the Neuropsychological Assessment of Executive Functions for Children (ENFEN) and the School Neuropsychological Maturity Questionnaire were administered at 7.5 years of age. The effect of PSE on child IQ and neuropsychological function was assessed with ANCOVA, adjusting for obstetric, neonatal and sociodemographic factors.Results: Children whose mothers smoked throughout pregnancy scored lower in interference (ENFEN) compared to unexposed children (F = 4.1; p = .008). The results showed no differences in other executive functions, verbal and visual memory and IQ between the PSE groups.Conclusion: PSE had little effect on child neuropsychological outcome and was limited to mental flexibility. Nevertheless, these findings support further efforts aimed at encouraging mothers to quit smoking in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Roigé-Castellví
- Centre de Recerca en Avaluació i Mesura de la Conducta (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Tarragona, Spain
| | - Michelle Murphy
- Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, URV, IISPV, Reus, Spain.,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Hernández-Martínez
- Centre de Recerca en Avaluació i Mesura de la Conducta (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Tarragona, Spain
| | - Pol Solé-Navais
- Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, URV, IISPV, Reus, Spain.,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pere Cavallé-Busquets
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Area of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Hospital Universitari Sant Joan, Reus, Spain
| | - Joan Fernández-Ballart
- Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, URV, IISPV, Reus, Spain.,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica Ballesteros
- Area of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Josefa Canals
- Centre de Recerca en Avaluació i Mesura de la Conducta (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Tarragona, Spain
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Sharapova SR, Phillips E, Sirocco K, Kaminski JW, Leeb RT, Rolle I. Effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on neuropsychological outcomes in children aged 1-11 years: A systematic review. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2018; 32:512-532. [PMID: 30335203 PMCID: PMC6261687 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Normalisation of medicinal and recreational marijuana use has increased the importance of fully understanding effects of marijuana use on individual-and population-level health, including prenatal exposure effects on child development. We undertook a systematic review of the literature to examine the long-term effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on neuropsychological function in children aged 1-11 years. METHODS Primary research publications were searched from Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, CINAHL EbscoHost, Cochrane Library, Global Health and ERIC (1980-2018). Eligible articles documented neuropsychological outcomes in children 1-11 years who had been prenatally exposed to marijuana. Studies of exposure to multiple prenatal drugs were included if results for marijuana exposure were reported separately from other substances. Data abstraction was independently performed by two reviewers using a standardised protocol. RESULTS The eligible articles (n = 21) on data from seven independent longitudinal studies had high quality based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Some analyses found associations (P < 0.05) between prenatal marijuana exposure and decreased performance on memory, impulse control, problem-solving, quantitative reasoning, verbal development and visual analysis tests; as well as increased performance on attention and global motion perception tests. Limitations included concurrent use of other substances among study participants, potential under-reporting and publication biases, non-generalisable samples and limited published results preventing direct comparison of analyses. CONCLUSIONS The specific effects of prenatal marijuana exposure remain unclear and warrant further research. The larger number of neuropsychological domains that exhibit decreased versus increased psychological and behavioural functions suggests that exposure to marijuana may be harmful for brain development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saida R. Sharapova
- Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Atlanta, GA
| | - Elyse Phillips
- Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Atlanta, GA
| | - Karen Sirocco
- Prevention Research Branch, Division of Epidemiology,
Services and Prevention, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of
Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Jennifer W. Kaminski
- Division of Human Development and Disability, National
Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Rebecca T. Leeb
- Division of Human Development and Disability, National
Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Italia Rolle
- Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Atlanta, GA
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