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folic acid

This shows a pregnant woman, pills and DNA.

·April 16, 2026·8 min read

High-Dose Folic Acid Slashes Birth Defect Risks

Women on antiseizure medication can reduce their child's risk of birth defects by 45%, but only if they start high-dose folic acid before getting pregnant.

This shows a pregnant woman and a brain.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·October 17, 2024·4 min read

Folic Acid Reduces Lead’s Impact on Autism Risk

A study has shown that folic acid supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the link between maternal blood lead levels and autistic-like behaviors in children. By examining data from pregnant women and their toddlers, researchers found stronger associations between lead exposure and autism traits in cases of low folic acid intake.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 4, 2024·7 min read

Low B12 and High Folic Acid Impacts Fetal Brain Development

New research in mice suggests that too much folic acid, a synthetic form of folate, may impact brain development. Imbalances in folic acid and vitamin B12 can alter neural development, raising questions about dietary fortification.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 1, 2022·7 min read

Folic Acid Treatment Is Associated With Decreased Risk of Suicide Attempts

Study reveals a 44% reduction in suicidal events, including suicide attempts and self-harm, in depressed patients who took folic acid supplements.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 3, 2021·3 min read

Fish Oil Taken During Pregnancy Boosts Brain Function in Children at Age 10

At age ten, children whose mothers took fish oil supplements during pregnancy were more efficient at problem-solving tasks and had better attentional focus than those whose mothers just took folic acid or no supplements at all.

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·October 6, 2020·4 min read

Excess Folic Acid During Pregnancy Harms Brain Development

Study of pregnant mice found excess folic acid is detrimental to brain development in fetuses. Mice exposed in-utero to higher doses of folic acid had significant brain changes compared to those who were exposed to lower doses.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 19, 2020·4 min read

Prenatal phthalate exposure associated with autistic traits in young boys

Higher gestational concentrations of phthalate metabolites were associated with an increased risk of autism in boys, but not in girls. Folic acid may help to protect against the effects of phthalate exposure, researchers report.

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·July 22, 2019·4 min read

Offspring of pregnant women exposed to high level of pollutants may have lower IQs

Maternal exposure to higher levels of air pollution is associated with lower IQ scores in their children. For those whose mothers were in the highest 10% of exposure had IQ score that were, on average, 2.5 points lower than those whose mothers were in the lowest 10%. However, higher maternal folate levels appear to neurtralize the effect of high pollution exposure on offspring.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 15, 2019·4 min read

B-Group Vitamins Can Improve Concentration In People With First Episode Psychosis

A new study reports vitamins B12, B6 and folic acid can help improve concentration in people experiencing their first episode of psychosis.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 6, 2018·5 min read

Pregnant with Epilepsy? Folic Acid May Prevent Language Delays

A new study links folic acid intake in pregnant women with epilepsy and language development in children. Researchers report among children whose mothers with epilepsy did not take folic acid, 34% had delayed language skills at 18 months.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 3, 2018·8 min read

Prenatal Exposure to Folic Acid Fortification of Food May Reduce Mental Health Risks in Children

A new study reports the offspring of women who eat a diet rich of foods fortified with folic acid while pregnant have a reduced risk of being diagnosed with a mental illness later in life. The study reports those who had increased in-utero folic acid exposure had increased cortical thickness and delayed thinning of the cerebral cortex.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·January 3, 2018·4 min read

Are Vitamin Supplements Used Before or During Pregnancy Associated With ASD Risk?

A new study backs previous findings, reporting a reduced risk of ASD in the offspring of mothers who used folic acid and multivitamins both prior to and during pregnancy.

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