Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michelle Z. L. Kee, Ai Ling Teh, Andrew Clappison, Irina Pokhvisneva, Julie L. MacIssac, David T. S. Lin, Katia E. Ramadori, Birit F. P. Broekman, Helen Chen, Mary Lourdes Daniel, Neerja Karnani, Michael S. Kobor, Peter D. Gluckman, Yap Seng Chong, Jonathan Y. Huang, Michael J. Meaney
Summary: This study found an association between prenatal maternal depressive symptoms and inter-individual genome-wide DNA methylation, specifically in mothers carrying female fetuses. It also revealed sex-dependent associations with depression-related genes and signaling pathways, suggesting the potential role of maternal-fetal interactions in intergenerational transmission.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oluwafunmilade Deji-Abiodun, Babatunde Adedokun, Donee Alexander, Anindita Dutta, Tope Ibigbami, John Olamijulo, Dayo Adepoju, Samuel Adekunle, Oladosu Ojengbede, Christopher O. Olopade
Summary: This study investigated the impact of maternal psychological distress on fetal biometric parameters in pregnant Nigerian women exposed to household air pollution. The results showed that psychological distress negatively affected fetal biometric parameters, and women using ethanol stoves had lower psychological distress compared to those using kerosene/firewood. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing measures to alleviate maternal distress and reduce exposure to household air pollution during pregnancy from a public health perspective.
Review
Neurosciences
Chaselyn Ruffaner-Hanson, Shahani Noor, Melody S. Sun, Elizabeth Solomon, Lidia Enriquez Marquez, Dominique E. Rodriguez, Andrea M. Allan, Kevin K. Caldwell, Ludmila N. Bakhireva, Erin D. Milligan
Summary: This review explores the physiological, cellular, and molecular factors that are involved in the alteration of the developing fetal brain stress circuits and responses of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis caused by maternal stress and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). The role of the placenta in these processes is emphasized. Alterations in the fetal HPA axis can lead to long-term dysregulation of the brain stress-response system. The review also addresses the reciprocal interactions between the neuroimmune and neuroendocrine systems during fetal development, as well as the impact of maternal stress and PAE on later-life stress responses and mood dysregulation.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Megan G. McGill, Irina Pokhvisneva, Andrew S. Clappison, Lisa M. McEwen, Roseriet Beijers, Marieke S. Tollenaar, Hung Pham, Michelle Z. L. Kee, Elika Garg, Euclides J. de Mendonca Filho, Neerja Karnani, Patricia P. Silveira, Michael S. Kobor, Carolina de Weerth, Michael J. Meaney, Kieran J. O'Donnell
Summary: Prenatal maternal anxiety predicts child PedBE epigenetic age acceleration, predominantly in males. PedBE age acceleration predicts increased externalizing symptoms in males in the BIBO cohort.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ling Zhang, Lei Wang, Shu Cui, Qiuyu Yuan, Cui Huang, Xiaoqin Zhou
Summary: The study found a high prevalence of prenatal depression in Chinese pregnant women, which is significantly associated with prenatal anxiety, sleep disorders, and maternal-fetal attachment. Prenatal education and higher marital satisfaction are protective factors against prenatal depression, while anxiety and sleep disorders are risk factors. Prenatal depression is negatively correlated with the quality of maternal-fetal attachment, but positively correlated with the intensity.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ling Zhang, Lei Wang, Qiuyu Yuan, Cui Huang, Shu Cui, Kai Zhang, Xiaoqin Zhou
Summary: The study found that pregnant women with insecure adult attachment have higher rates of prenatal depression, lower total MFA scores, and lower MFA quality compared to those with secure adult attachment. The exploratory analysis showed that depression scores mediate the relationship between adult attachment avoidance and MFA quality.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
James M. Keane, Ali S. Khashan, Fergus P. McCarthy, Louise C. Kenny, James M. Collins, Sarah O'Donovan, Jillian Brown, John F. Cryan, Timothy G. Dinan, Gerard Clarke, Siobhain M. O'Mahony
Summary: High levels of psychological stress in pregnant women are associated with elevated levels of soluble CD14, lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Anxiety is linked to higher concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) in healthy pregnancies. Prenatal depression is correlated with increased levels of soluble CD14, LBP, and CRP in healthy women, while high levels of prenatal anxiety and depression are also associated with lower concentrations of tryptophan and kynurenine in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Article
Clinical Neurology
Min Chen, Guanghai Wang, Xiaoning Sun, Min Meng, Yanrui Jiang, Wanqi Sun, Yujiao Deng, Qi Zhu, Fan Jiang
Summary: This study found that prenatal depression significantly affects child mental health, and maternal childhood trauma plays a key role in this effect. The results showed that prenatal depression predicts child mental health problems, and childhood emotional abuse moderates this relationship.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Megan E. Norr, Jasmine L. Hect, Carly J. Lenniger, Martijn Van den Heuvel, Moriah E. Thomason
Summary: This study explores the impact of high maternal prenatal BMI on macrocircuitry in the human fetal brain. The findings suggest that maternal BMI is associated with connectivity between the left anterior insula/inferior frontal gyrus (aIN/IFG) and bilateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), with increased within-hemisphere connectivity and reduced cross-hemisphere connectivity in higher BMI pregnancies.
JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Chenming Xu, Jianli Li, Songchang Chen, Xiaoqiang Cai, Ruilin Jing, Xiaomei Qin, Dong Pan, Xin Zhao, Dongyang Ma, Xiufeng Xu, Xiaojun Liu, Can Wang, Bingxin Yang, Lanlan Zhang, Shuyuan Li, Yiyao Chen, Nina Pan, Ping Tang, Jieping Song, Nian Liu, Chen Zhang, Zhiwei Zhang, Xiang Qiu, Weiliang Lu, Chunmei Ying, Xiaotian Li, Congjian Xu, Yanlin Wang, Yanting Wu, He-Feng Huang, Jinglan Zhang
Summary: Current non-invasive prenatal screening methods face challenges in detecting fetus-specific genetic variants. This study developed a new sequencing method that accurately separates fetal genome from maternal background, enabling thorough and accurate delineation of fetal genome and paving the way for next-generation prenatal screening.
Article
Neurosciences
Moriah E. Thomason, Jasmine L. Hect, Rebecca Waller, Paul Curtin
Summary: Maternal prenatal stress is associated with variations in fetal brain functional connectivity, with stronger effects observed in women with better health behaviors, positive interpersonal support, and lower overall stress. Additionally, the differences in neural connectivity due to stress are marginally correlated with younger gestational age at delivery. This study provides the first evidence of how negative affect and stress during pregnancy can impact fetal brain programming.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Francesca Anns, Karen E. Waldie, Elizabeth R. Peterson, Caroline Walker, Susan M. B. Morton, Stephanie D'Souza
Summary: This study examined the associations between antenatal exposure to antidepressants, maternal depression, and child behavioral difficulties. The results showed that neither antenatal exposure to unmedicated depression nor antidepressants were associated with an increased risk of behavioral difficulties in children. However, maternal later life depression was found to be associated with behavioral difficulties at all three ages investigated.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Claudia Lugo Candelas, Ardesheer Talati, Caila Glickman, Mariely Hernandez, Pamela Scorza, Catherine Monk, Ai Kubo, Chiaying Wei, Andre Sourander, Cristiane S. Duarte
Summary: Studies on prenatal interventions for reducing the risk of psychiatric disorders in offspring have provided mixed and limited evidence. Most research has focused on reducing prenatal depression and anxiety, with some positive effects observed. However, there is a lack of studies on offspring mental health and neurodevelopmental outcomes. More randomized controlled trials focusing on these outcomes are urgently needed.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel E. Lean, Christopher D. Smyser, Rebecca G. Brady, Regina L. Triplett, Sydney Kaplan, Jeanette K. Kenley, Joshua S. Shimony, Tara A. Smyser, J. Phillip Miller, Deanna M. Barch, Joan L. Luby, Barbara B. Warner, Cynthia E. Rogers
Summary: This study found that early life adversity is associated with altered microstructure in fronto-limbic pathways, with social disadvantage being independently associated with lower mean diffusivity (MD) and psychosocial stress being associated with both lower MD and higher fractional anisotropy (FA). The effects of psychosocial stress were more pronounced in individuals with lower socioeconomic status.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jing Li, Xueyun Gao, Shan Wang, Dan Yao, Shuya Shao, Haoyue Wu, Meina Xu, Qiqi Yi, Longshan Xie, Zhongliang Zhu, Dongli Song, Hui Li
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between prenatal maternal psychological distress (PMPD), birth outcomes, and placental N6-methyladenosine RNA (m6A) methylation. The results showed that PMPD was associated with birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA). Placental m6A methylation was associated with PMPD and BW, and partially mediated the effect of PMPD on BW. These findings highlight the importance of perinatal psychological evaluation and intervention.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
