Effect of multiple pregnancy and laterality on infant neurodevelopment

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neuroscience
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Infant neurodevelopment is influenced by various prenatal factors.
• Multiple gestations (dizygotic and monozygotic twins) present unique developmental considerations compared to singleton pregnancies.
• Laterality, or hand preference, is a marker of brain lateralization and has been explored in relation to neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of pregnancy type (singleton, dizygotic, monozygotic) on infant neurodevelopment.
• To examine the role of laterality in the relationship between multiple pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• To determine if laterality confounds, mediates, or modifies the association between multiple pregnancy and neurodevelopment.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study included women with singleton, dizygotic, and monozygotic pregnancies.
• Laterality was assessed using Edinburgh's scale of laterality.
• Infant neurodevelopment was evaluated using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), with linear regression used to explore laterality's effects.

Main Results:

• A trend towards poorer neurodevelopment in communication and fine motor skills was observed across singleton, dizygotic, and monozygotic pregnancies.
• Both dizygotic and monozygotic pregnancies showed a higher frequency of non-right laterality compared to singletons.
• Laterality was not found to be associated with neurodevelopment, nor did it confound, mediate, or modify the effect of multiple pregnancy on neurodevelopment.

Conclusions:

• The association between multiple pregnancy and poorer infant neurodevelopment is significant.
• This relationship is independent of the child's laterality.
• Laterality does not play a role in the observed neurodevelopmental differences between singleton and multiple pregnancies.