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Associations of cord blood leptin and adiponectin with children's cognitive abilities
Nan Li1, Tye E Arbuckle2, Gina Muckle3
1Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.
Insights
Cord blood adiponectin levels correlate with enhanced cognitive abilities in children. Higher adiponectin concentrations are linked to better intelligence quotient (IQ) scores and improved working memory, suggesting a role in neurodevelopment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Adipocytokines, signaling molecules from fat tissue, are implicated in fetal neurodevelopment.
- Understanding the prenatal environment's impact on child cognition is crucial for developmental health.
- Cord blood adipocytokines offer a window into the fetal exposome and its long-term effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between adipocytokine concentrations in umbilical cord blood and children's intelligence test scores.
- To investigate potential links between fetal adipocytokine exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from two North American pregnancy cohorts: MIREC (n=429) and HOME (n=183).
- Measured umbilical cord blood adipocytokine levels via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
- Assessed children's Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and cognitive components using standardized Wechsler scales at multiple ages.
- Employed linear regression and mixed-effects models, adjusting for relevant covariates.
Main Results:
- Cord blood adiponectin showed a positive association with full-scale IQ scores at age 3 (MIREC) and ages 5-8 (HOME).
- Adiponectin was positively linked to performance IQ in both cohorts.
- A significant association was found between adiponectin and working memory composite scores at age 8 in the HOME study.
- Leptin concentrations in cord blood did not demonstrate a significant association with children's IQ scores.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal exposure to adiponectin, measured in cord blood, is associated with higher cognitive function in children.
- Findings suggest adiponectin may play a role in fetal programming of neurodevelopment and cognitive outcomes.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms connecting adiponectin and child intelligence.
Abstract:
Background Adipocytokines may play a role in fetal programming of neurodevelopment. We aimed to investigate the associations between cord blood adipocytokine concentrations and children's intelligence test scores. Methods We used data from two ongoing pregnancy cohorts in North America: the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC, n = 429) and Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME, n = 183) Studies. Umbilical cord blood adipocytokine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We assessed children's Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and its components using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence-III or Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV. We used linear regression and linear mixed models to estimate associations between log2-transformed adipocytokine concentrations and children's IQ after adjusting for sociodemographic, perinatal, and child factors. Results After adjusting for covariates, cord blood adiponectin was positively associated with children's full-scale IQ scores at age 3 years in the MIREC Study (β = 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2, 2.5) and at ages 5 and 8 years in the HOME Study (β = 1.7, CI: -0.1, 3.5). Adiponectin was positively associated with performance IQ in both studies (MIREC: β = 2.0, CI: 0.7, 3.3; HOME: β = 2.2, CI: 0.5, 3.9). Adiponectin was positively associated with working memory composite scores at age 8 in the HOME Study (β = 3.1, CI: 1.0, 5.2). Leptin was not associated with children's IQ in either study. Conclusions Cord blood adiponectin was associated with higher full-scale and performance IQ and working memory composite scores in children. Future studies are needed to explore the mechanisms underlying these associations.