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Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Effects of maternal stress and nutrient restriction during gestation on offspring neuroanatomy in humans
Katja Franke1, Bea R H Van den Bergh2, Susanne R de Rooij3
1Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
Insights
An unfavorable prenatal environment, including stress and poor nutrition, can negatively impact offspring brain development. This review links prenatal factors to neuroanatomical changes and later-life cognitive and mental health issues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cognitive and mental health are crucial for societal integration across the lifespan.
- Prenatal environmental factors, alongside genetics and lifestyle, may influence neuropsychiatric disorder risk.
- Emerging research investigates how prenatal stress and nutrient restriction impact offspring neuroanatomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review studies on prenatal environmental influences on offspring neuroanatomy.
- To assess the relationship between prenatal factors, neuroanatomical abnormalities, and later-life cognitive/mental health.
- To consider timing- and gender-specific effects in this emerging field.
Main Methods:
- Review of neuroimaging and anatomical data from human studies.
- Analysis of research linking prenatal environmental exposures to neuroanatomical outcomes.
- Examination of the association between neuroanatomical abnormalities and cognitive/mental disorders.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests adverse effects of unfavorable prenatal environments on structural brain development.
- Prenatal influences can lead to neuroanatomical abnormalities measured from in utero through adulthood.
- These neuroanatomical changes are linked to increased risk for cognitive, behavioral, and mental health problems.
Conclusions:
- An unfavorable prenatal environment can program long-term risks for cognitive and mental health issues.
- Prenatal neuroanatomical alterations are a key mechanism linking environmental exposures to later-life disorders.
- Understanding these prenatal effects is vital for early intervention and prevention strategies.
Abstract:
Cognitive and mental health are major determinants of quality of life, allowing integration into society at all ages. Human epidemiological and animal studies indicate that in addition to genetic factors and lifestyle, prenatal environmental influences may program neuropsychiatric disorders in later life. While several human studies have examined the effects of prenatal stress and nutrient restriction on brain function and mental health in later life, potentially mediating effects of prenatal stress and nutrient restriction on offspring neuroanatomy in humans have been studied only in recent years. Based on neuroimaging and anatomical data, we comprehensively review the studies in this emerging field. We relate prenatal environmental influences to neuroanatomical abnormalities in the offspring, measured in utero and throughout life. We also assess the relationship between neuroanatomical abnormalities and cognitive and mental disorders. Timing- and gender-specific effects are considered, if reported. Our review provides evidence for adverse effects of an unfavorable prenatal environment on structural brain development that may contribute to the risk for cognitive, behavioral and mental health problems throughout life.
