Knowledge | Cannabis Use During Pregnancy May Contribute to Attention and Behavioral Problems in Children, Study Links Early Exposure to Cognitive Development
Knowledge | Cannabis use during pregnancy may lead to attention and behavioral problems in children; study finds early exposure affects cognitive development
A study suggests that cannabis use during pregnancy may negatively affect children’s cognitive and behavioral development. Published this week in JAMA Pediatrics, the study was led by the Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. It included 250 children and focused on the association between maternal cannabis use during pregnancy and neurobehavioral outcomes at age 5.
Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to attention, impulse control, and aggressive behavior
The research team found that children exposed to cannabis in the womb performed worse in thinking, attention, impulse control, and planning than unexposed children. Assessments included interactive tablet tasks testing attention and other executive functions. Aggressive behavior was evaluated by observing whether children hit a toy doll on the head.
Of the 250 children, 80 (about 32%) had been exposed to cannabis prenatally. Exposure was confirmed through three sources: maternal urine tests during pregnancy, self-reported cannabis use during pregnancy, and medical records documenting cannabis use. The urine tests detected metabolites of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive component in cannabis and delta-9 products.
Researchers also adjusted for other variables, including exposure to tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs (reported in 22%-39% of participants), to better isolate the effects of cannabis.
Cannabis is not “natural and harmless”—experts caution against using it to relieve pregnancy symptoms
“Although cannabis is a natural plant, using it during pregnancy carries multiple health risks,” researcher Sarah Keim, PhD, emphasized in a Nationwide Children’s Hospital news release. “Some pregnant women may use cannabis for morning sickness, sleep problems, or stress, but it is not safe. They should ask their doctor about safer alternatives.”
Dr. Keim’s institution has long studied how sensitive children’s behavioral development is to early environmental factors. This study adds further evidence on the effects of maternal substance use.
Study limitations and social context: a network of covariates that cannot be ignored
A commentary published with the study noted several limitations despite the notable findings: the sample was small, geographically concentrated (participants were recruited only at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center), and demographically narrow. Most families were low-income Black families, with annual household incomes generally below the federal poverty line.
The commentary authors noted that “adverse exposures often coexist and are embedded within complex environmental and lifestyle factors, making single-variable research difficult.” During childhood brain development, postnatal caregiving environments and parental mental health may have profound effects in addition to chemical exposures in the womb.
They further suggested that mothers who use cannabis during pregnancy be considered a high-risk group and included in psychosocial support services to help interrupt potential intergenerational risk pathways and ultimately benefit both mother and child.
Knowledge | Cannabis Use During Pregnancy May Contribute to Attention and Behavioral Problems in Children, Study Links Early Exposure to Cognitive Development
Knowledge | Cannabis use during pregnancy may lead to attention and behavioral problems in children; study finds early exposure affects cognitive development
A study suggests that cannabis use during pregnancy may negatively affect children’s cognitive and behavioral development. Published this week in JAMA Pediatrics, the study was led by the Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. It included 250 children and focused on the association between maternal cannabis use during pregnancy and neurobehavioral outcomes at age 5.
Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to attention, impulse control, and aggressive behavior
The research team found that children exposed to cannabis in the womb performed worse in thinking, attention, impulse control, and planning than unexposed children. Assessments included interactive tablet tasks testing attention and other executive functions. Aggressive behavior was evaluated by observing whether children hit a toy doll on the head.
Of the 250 children, 80 (about 32%) had been exposed to cannabis prenatally. Exposure was confirmed through three sources: maternal urine tests during pregnancy, self-reported cannabis use during pregnancy, and medical records documenting cannabis use. The urine tests detected metabolites of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive component in cannabis and delta-9 products.
Researchers also adjusted for other variables, including exposure to tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs (reported in 22%-39% of participants), to better isolate the effects of cannabis.
Cannabis is not “natural and harmless”—experts caution against using it to relieve pregnancy symptoms
“Although cannabis is a natural plant, using it during pregnancy carries multiple health risks,” researcher Sarah Keim, PhD, emphasized in a Nationwide Children’s Hospital news release. “Some pregnant women may use cannabis for morning sickness, sleep problems, or stress, but it is not safe. They should ask their doctor about safer alternatives.”
Dr. Keim’s institution has long studied how sensitive children’s behavioral development is to early environmental factors. This study adds further evidence on the effects of maternal substance use.
Study limitations and social context: a network of covariates that cannot be ignored
A commentary published with the study noted several limitations despite the notable findings: the sample was small, geographically concentrated (participants were recruited only at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center), and demographically narrow. Most families were low-income Black families, with annual household incomes generally below the federal poverty line.
The commentary authors noted that “adverse exposures often coexist and are embedded within complex environmental and lifestyle factors, making single-variable research difficult.” During childhood brain development, postnatal caregiving environments and parental mental health may have profound effects in addition to chemical exposures in the womb.
They further suggested that mothers who use cannabis during pregnancy be considered a high-risk group and included in psychosocial support services to help interrupt potential intergenerational risk pathways and ultimately benefit both mother and child.
Source:
Collected online