Newborn brain structural characteristics and their relationships with maternal prenatal distress : Findings from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort MRI Study
Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Plasticity renders the brain sensitive to its intrauterine environment and susceptible to alterations during early brain development. The amygdala and hippocampus, structures key in socioemotional functions, are susceptible to these alterations. Understanding the normal variation in the newborn brain facilitates the recognition of such aberrant developmental trajectories, which may occur after exposure to maternal prenatal psychological distress (PPD) and result in a predisposition to psychopathology. This study aimed to 1) describe the normal variation of newborn brain volumetric measures in relation to newborn characteristics; 2) assess the prevalence and risk factors of incidental findings in newborn brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); 3) investigate how different types and timings of maternal PPD associate with newborn amygdalar and hippocampal volumes, and whether this association is modified by newborn sex. Information on maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms was gathered at gestational weeks (GW) 14, 24 and 34, and pregnancy¬specific anxiety (PSA) symptoms at GW24. Newborns were imaged with MRI at two to five weeks of postnatal age (n=175). The sub studies constituted variant samples sizes from the total population. Newborn brain lobar volumes were similarly asymmetric in both sexes. Modest sex differences were observed in regional brain volumes. Newborn age predicted larger volumes of gray and white matter. The prevalence of incidental findings in brain MRI was 7.4 % and that of hemorrhages 6.9 %. Risk factors for hemorrhages were vaginal and vacuum-assisted deliveries. All the different types of PPD associated with the left newborn amygdalar volume at GW24 in a sex-specific manner. In males, PPD predicted smaller amygdalar volumes, while in females larger amygdalar volumes. Further analyses suggested a negative association between PSA and the right hippocampal volume in females. Newborn sex appears to be a significant factor moderating the relationship between PPD and newborn brain structures, suggesting sex-specific susceptibility to psychopathologies.
Source: UTUPub (University of Turku)
Author: Satu J. Lehtola
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3099006795