Anxiety, depression and stress affect brain development in the fetus. This can impair a child’s cognitive development, at least until 18 months.
- About one in four pregnant women suffers from stress-related symptoms.
- The long-term effects of maternal stress remain unknown.
- The cognitive development of the infant includes the acquisition of faculties such as touch, smell, learning or language.
Stress is bad for health, especially for pregnant women because it can have an impact on the development of their child. In JAMA Network openresearchers from Children’s National Hospital, located in the United States, explain that the anxieties of mothers harm the cognitive development of their offspring.
Women followed during and after pregnancy
The research team recruited 97 pregnant women. She followed them during their pregnancy and up to 18 months after the birth of their child. All participants were in good health, most were educated and employed. To quantify prenatal maternal stress, anxiety and depression, the researchers used questionnaires, which they submitted to them. Fetal brain volumes and cortical folding were measured from three-dimensionally reconstructed images from MRI scans. Fetal brain creatine and choline were also quantified: these are amino acids, essential for brain development. The neurological development of the 18-month-old child was measured using scientifically validated assessment systems.
A change in brain biochemistry
The authors find that the anxiety of pregnant women affects the brain development of their babies: their mental health alters the structure and biochemistry of the developing fetal brain. In the womb, the researchers observed changes in the depth of the sulci and the volume of the left hippocampus, which could explain the neurodevelopmental problems observed after birth. At 18 months, these children may experience social-emotional problems and have difficulty forming positive relationships with others, including their mother. According to them, these developmental disorders have an impact on the parent-child relationship, and on the ability of infants to self-regulate.
Better manage the distress of pregnant women
“By identifying pregnant women with high levels of psychological distress, healthcare professionals could detect babies who are at risk for later neurodevelopmental impairment and could benefit from early and targeted interventions.“, believes Catherine Limperopoulos, lead author of the study. According to her, the care of pregnant women should be adapted to better support them and help them reduce their stress.
