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Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Published on: February 28, 2025
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Longitudinal Associations Between Cannabis Use during Pregnancy and Child Cognitive, Motor, and Language Development
Justine Pleau1,2,3,4, Noémie Tanguay1,2, Yohann Courtemanche2
1École de psychologie de l'Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Maternal and Child Health Journal
|March 23, 2025
Summary
Prenatal cannabis use was not linked to developmental delays in children. However, a positive association was observed between cannabis use and language development in girls only, suggesting sex-specific effects.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatric Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Cannabis use during pregnancy is a growing concern.
- Understanding its impact on child development is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe prenatal cannabis use patterns.
- To identify associated maternal factors.
- To examine the effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on child development at age two.
- To investigate sex-specific differences in these effects.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 1489 mother-infant dyads.
- Cannabis use assessed via interviews across trimesters.
- Child development evaluated at age two using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) and MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories.
- Statistical analyses included multiple linear regressions and sex-differential analyses.
Main Results:
- 2.6% of women reported prenatal cannabis use, often ceasing after the first trimester.
- Cannabis use was associated with lower socioeconomic status, co-use of alcohol/tobacco, and maternal distress.
- No significant associations were found between prenatal cannabis use and cognitive, fine motor, or gross motor development.
- A positive association between cannabis use and language development was observed exclusively in girls.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal cannabis exposure did not show significant negative impacts on overall child development in this cohort.
- A potential positive association with language development in girls warrants further investigation.
- Future research should utilize biomarkers to accurately document prenatal cannabis exposure.
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