Work

Consequences of Low Neonatal Iron Status Due to Maternal Diabetes Mellitus on Explicit Memory Performance in Childhood

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: Diabetic pregnancies are characterized by chronic metabolic insults, including iron deficiency, that place the developing brain at risk for memory impairment later in life. A behavioral recall paradigm coupled with electrophysiological measures was used to assess the longevity of these effects in 40 3(1/2)-year-old children. When memory demands were high, recall was significantly impaired in the at-risk group and correlated with perinatal measures of iron. Electrophysiological results suggested both encoding and retrieval processes were compromised. These findings support the hypothesis that prenatal iron deficiency leads to alterations in neural development that have a lasting impact on memory ability.

Source: Developmental Neuropsychology

DOI: 10.1080/87565640903265145

Authors: Tracy Riggins, Neely C. Miller, Patricia J. Bauer, Michael K. Georgieff, Charles A. Nelson

Institutions: University of Maryland, College Park, University of Minnesota, Emory University, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Iron Metabolism and Disorders

Subfield: Hematology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Center for Research Resources, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development