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placenta

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·March 20, 2025·4 min read

Schizophrenia Risk May Begin in the Placenta

A new study highlights the placenta’s role in neuropsychiatric development, showing that DNA methylation influences gene expression tied to psychiatric disorders. Researchers found strong links between placental DNA methylation and conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 10, 2024·4 min read

Placental Cells Indicate Fetal Brain Health

Fetal placental macrophages can serve as indicators of fetal brain microglia health, which are crucial for brain development. Immune activation in pregnant women, such as from infections or obesity, can negatively affect fetal brain development. The study used mouse models and found that male fetuses are more affected by maternal obesity than females. This research opens avenues for early identification and intervention in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 27, 2024·7 min read

Placenta’s Role in Brain Development Linked to Child Cognition

A new study reveals the oxygenation levels in the placenta during the last trimester of pregnancy are a key predictor of the development of the cerebral cortex and likely childhood cognition and behavior. Utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for a more accurate assessment of placental health, the study offers new insights into how the placenta mediates the impact of maternal health on fetal brain development.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 5, 2023·4 min read

Placenta Plays A Key Role in Brain Development

A new study focuses on the placenta's role in transporting essential biological materials to the fetal brain. The findings reveal that extracellular vesicles from the placenta play a crucial role in this process, potentially enabling earlier diagnosis of neurological disorders like ASD and schizophrenia.

This shows a pregnant woman's body and a pair of blue baby booties

Featured Neuroscience

·April 26, 2022·7 min read

Boys Are More Demanding Than Girls Before They Are Born

Women expecting male babies often face more complications during pregnancy. Researchers found the sex of a baby affects how well the placenta functions, along with other factors including maternal stress and diet-induced maternal obesity. Designing individual plans and encouraging women to make lifestyle choices based on their child's sex could provide long-term health benefits and reduce complications during pregnancy.

This shows a drawing of a baby and a placenta

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 11, 2022·4 min read

Air Pollution Can Harm Pregnancy by Affecting Gene Expression in the Placenta

Study reveals significant changes in the expression of multiple genes in the placenta associated with exposure to UFP air pollution. Additionally, researchers reported noticeable reductions in fetal and placental length, and fetal weight in those with low dose UFP exposure.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 21, 2021·3 min read

New Mothers Could Help Protect Other Babies’ Brains

Stem cells collected from the placentas of women who gave birth to healthy babies could reduce neuroinflammation and reduce brain injury in growth-restricted babies.

This is a drawing of a baby and a placenta

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·February 8, 2021·5 min read

Specific Genes in Placenta May Predict Size of Baby’s Brain and Risk for Schizophrenia

Genes found in the placenta can accurately help predict the size of a baby's brain and its cognitive development, which, depending on other factors, could predict risk factors for schizophrenia in later life.

This shows a pregnant woman in a hospital bed

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 22, 2020·5 min read

Placentas from COVID-19-positive pregnant women show injury

The placentas of sixteen women who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy showed evidence of significant injury, a new study reports. The placental injuries were consistent with abnormal blood flow between mother and baby in-utero, suggesting another complication of coronavirus infection in pregnant women.

This shows a drawing of a fetus attached to a placenta

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·December 27, 2019·3 min read

Placental protein makes a critical contribution to healthy fetal development

Study reveals how a protein that transports essential amino acids across the placenta plays a role in fetal development. Deficiencies of the SNAT4 protein may result in developmental abnormalities and a higher risk of miscarriage.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·October 21, 2019·2 min read

Autism spectrum disorder risk linked to insufficient placental steroid

When the hormone allopregnanolone (ALLO) abruptly decreases or stops during pregnancy, children are more likely to develop autism. Researchers report a single ALLO injection during pregnancy can avert the brain abnormalities and social behaviors associated with ASD in experimental mouse models of autism.