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Cortical Thinning and Neuropsychiatric Outcomes in Children Exposed to Prenatal Adversity: A Role for Placental CRH?

Curt A Sandman1, Megan M Curran1, Elysia Poggi Davis1

  • 1From the Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Anatomy and Neurobiology, Pediatrics, and Neurology, University of California, Irvine; the Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver; and the Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, Calif.

The American Journal of Psychiatry
|March 3, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Early life stress impacts brain development. Fetal exposure to placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) predicted cortical thinning and neurodevelopmental deficits in children, with sex-specific effects.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Early-life adversity can profoundly impact neurodevelopment.
  • Placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) acts as a key mediator of maternal-fetal communication during gestation.
  • Understanding the role of pCRH in prenatal development is crucial for identifying risks for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between fetal exposure to pCRH and neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-aged children.
  • To examine the predictive value of pCRH levels on brain structure and function.
  • To explore potential sex-specific differences in these relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study involving measurement of pCRH in maternal plasma across gestation.
  • Neuroimaging (MRI) to assess brain structures in school-aged children.
  • Administration of emotional and cognitive tests to evaluate behaviors and attention.

Main Results:

  • Elevated pCRH levels during gestation were associated with thinning of specific cortical regions in children.
  • Cortical thinning correlated with cognitive and emotional deficits, including internalizing and externalizing behaviors.
  • The observed relationships between pCRH exposure, cortical structure, and child function exhibited sex-specific patterns.

Conclusions:

  • pCRH emerges as a significant mediator linking early-life adversity to adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes.
  • Fetal exposure to pCRH influences neuronal maturation and brain circuit development, impacting cortical volume.
  • These findings highlight pCRH as a critical factor in the developmental trajectory of brain health and behavior.
Abstract

Keywords:
Biological MarkersChild PsychiatryCognitive NeuroscienceMagnetic Resonance ImagingStress

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