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pregnancy

·March 10, 2025·4 min read

Prenatal Stress Timing Shapes Infant Stress Response

New research reveals that the timing of stress during pregnancy has gender-specific effects on infants, altering how boys and girls respond to stress differently. Scientists found mid-pregnancy stress has a stronger impact on girls' stress reactivity, while boys are more sensitive to stress experienced in late gestation.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 3, 2025·8 min read

Maternal Diet Influences ADHD and Autism Risk

A large study analyzing over 60,000 mother-child pairs found that a Western diet during pregnancy—high in fat, sugar, and processed foods—was associated with a significantly increased risk of ADHD and autism in children. Even small shifts toward a Western diet correlated with a 66% higher risk of ADHD and a 122% higher risk of autism.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·February 18, 2025·4 min read

Prenatal Stress Hormones Alter Brain Development

Environmental factors like stress and medication exposure during pregnancy can shape brain development, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Researchers used brain organoids to study the effects of synthetic glucocorticoids, commonly given to prevent complications in premature births.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 31, 2025·7 min read

Genetics, Not Maternal Sickness, Drives Autism Risk

A large study analyzing over 1.1 million pregnancies found no strong evidence that maternal health conditions during pregnancy cause autism. Instead, nearly all previously reported associations between maternal diagnoses and autism could be explained by genetic or environmental factors.

This shows a pregnant woman and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 17, 2025·5 min read

Pregnancy Reshapes Mom’s Brain, Reducing Gray Matter

Pregnancy leads to a 4.9% reduction in gray matter volume in 94% of the brain, with partial recovery postpartum, primarily in regions tied to social cognition. A groundbreaking neuroimaging study analyzed brain changes in 179 women, including non-gestational mothers, revealing that these changes are biologically driven by pregnancy hormones rather than the experience of motherhood.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 15, 2024·5 min read

Antiseizure Drugs in Pregnancy Linked to Neurodevelopmental Risks

Research suggests that certain antiseizure medications taken during pregnancy may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental conditions in children. Drugs like valproate, topiramate, and carbamazepine were associated with specific risks, including autism and intellectual disability, while lamotrigine was found to pose little to no additional risk.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 28, 2024·5 min read

Prenatal Cannabis Use Linked to Child Aggression and Cognitive Deficits

Prenatal exposure to cannabis can negatively impact children’s thinking and behavioral skills, including impulse control, attention, and aggression, which are key for academic and social success. The study observed preschool-aged children with prenatal cannabis exposure and found they showed poorer control over impulses and emotions.

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.

This shows a pregnant woman drinking wine.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 10, 2024·6 min read

Early Alcohol Exposure Leaves Molecular Signature in Fetal Placenta

A recent study shows that alcohol exposure in the earliest stages of pregnancy can lead to detectable molecular changes in the late-gestation placenta, even influencing gene expression through DNA methylation. These changes, particularly in growth and neurotransmitter pathways, could have lasting effects on fetal development, potentially impacting future health. Interestingly, the impact varies by sex, affecting growth-related genes in males and serotonin-related genes in females.

This shows a pregnant woman and cannabis plants.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 4, 2024·5 min read

Long-term Impact of Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Explored

A study examining the effects of prenatal exposure to synthetic cannabinoids in rats found that the drug leads to long-term health issues in their offspring. Male rats showed an increased sensitivity to CO2, making them more prone to panic-like behavior, while females exhibited cardiovascular problems like hypertension and tachycardia.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·September 27, 2024·4 min read

Cannabis Use in Pregnancy Alters Genes in Developing Brain

New research has found that cannabis use during pregnancy can cause molecular changes in the genes of exposed children, impacting brain development. The study identified significant DNA alterations in genes related to neurodevelopment, suggesting a direct link between prenatal cannabis exposure and developmental issues.

This shows a cartoon of a pregnant woman resting in bed.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 26, 2024·3 min read

Poor Sleep in Pregnancy Linked to Developmental Risks

New research suggests that pregnant women who get less than seven hours of sleep per night may have a higher risk of having children with neurodevelopmental delays. The study, involving over 7,000 mother-child pairs, found that children of mothers with short sleep duration (SSD) were more likely to experience delays in cognitive, behavioral, and motor skills.

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pregnancy

Prenatal Stress Timing Shapes Infant Stress Response

Maternal Diet Influences ADHD and Autism Risk

Prenatal Stress Hormones Alter Brain Development

Genetics, Not Maternal Sickness, Drives Autism Risk

Pregnancy Reshapes Mom’s Brain, Reducing Gray Matter

Antiseizure Drugs in Pregnancy Linked to Neurodevelopmental Risks

Prenatal Cannabis Use Linked to Child Aggression and Cognitive Deficits

Folic Acid Reduces Lead’s Impact on Autism Risk

Early Alcohol Exposure Leaves Molecular Signature in Fetal Placenta

Long-term Impact of Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Explored

Cannabis Use in Pregnancy Alters Genes in Developing Brain

Poor Sleep in Pregnancy Linked to Developmental Risks

Taming Tumor Chaos: Researchers Uncover Key to Improving Glioblastoma Treatment

Hippocampus Predicts Rewards by Reorganizing Memories

Memory Rewritten: Study Finds No Clear Line Between Episodic and Semantic Retrieval

Brain Stimulation Method Can Evaluate Consciousness in Alzheimer’s Disease

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