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Subcortical brain volumes in young infants exposed to antenatal maternal depression: Findings from a South African birth cohort

Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported enlarged amygdala and smaller hippocampus volumes in children and adolescents exposed to maternal depression. It is unclear whether similar volumetric differences are detectable in the infants' first weeks of life, following exposure in utero. We investigated subcortical volumes in 2-to-6 week old infants exposed to antenatal maternal depression (AMD) from a South African birth cohort. METHODS: AMD was measured with the Beck Depression Inventory 2nd edition (BDI-II) at 28-32 weeks gestation. T2-weighted structural images were acquired during natural sleep on a 3T Siemens Allegra scanner. Subcortical regions were segmented based on the University of North Carolina neonatal brain atlas. Volumetric estimates were compared between AMD-exposed (BDI-II ⩾ 20) and unexposed (BDI-II < 14) infants, adjusted for age, sex and total intracranial volume using analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Larger volumes were observed in AMD-exposed (N = 49) compared to unexposed infants (N = 75) for the right amygdala (1.93% difference, p = 0.039) and bilateral caudate nucleus (left: 5.79% difference, p = 0.001; right: 6.09% difference, p < 0.001). A significant AMD-by-sex interaction was found for the hippocampus (left: F(1,118) = 4.80, p = 0.030; right: F(1,118) = 5.16, p = 0.025), reflecting greater volume in AMD-exposed females (left: 5.09% difference, p = 0.001, right: 3.54% difference, p = 0.010), but not males. CONCLUSIONS: Volumetric differences in subcortical regions can be detected in AMD-exposed infants soon after birth, suggesting structural changes may occur in utero. Female infants might exhibit volumetric changes that are not observed in male infants. The potential mechanisms underlying these early volumetric differences, and their significance for long-term child mental health, require further investigation.
DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103206
Authors: Nynke A. Groenewold, Catherine J. Wedderburn, Jennifer A. Pellowski, Jean-Paul Fouché, Liza Michalak, Annerine Roos, Roger P. Woods, Katherine L. Narr, Heather J. Zar, Kirsten A. Donald, Dan J. Stein
Institutions: South African Medical Research Council, University of Cape Town, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Brown University, University of California, Los Angeles
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,712
Funders: Carnegie Corporation of New York, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, South African Medical Research Council, Harry Crossley Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Awards: A neuroimaging study of 2 year old children with alcohol exposure compared to healthy unexposed controls embedded in a birth cohort study, G3685900323, G4856762701, Neurodevelopmental effects of HIV and ART exposure: a prospective neuroimaging study of uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers, University of Cape Town - to support a longitudinal cohort study of children evaluating the number, severity, and etiology of respiratory disease, and evaluate the potentia..., Neurodevelopmental effects of HIV and ART exposure: a prospective neuroimaging study of uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers
OpenAlex ID: W4296445618
FWCI: 3.38
Cites: 68
Cited by: 22
Related to: 10