Journal article
Brain white matter development in 8-year-old children is associated with maternal mental health during pregnancy
Frontiers in human neuroscience, Vol.19, 1603022
06/01/2025
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1603022
PMCID: PMC12213767
PMID: 40606496
Abstract
BackgroundMaternal mental health during pregnancy can influence fetal brain development, yet its long-term effects remain unclear. This study investigates the association between prenatal maternal depression and anxiety symptoms and white matter microstructure in the limbic system of 8-year-old children.MethodsFifty-one healthy pregnant women and typically developing 8-year-old children dyads were included in this prospective and longitudinal study. Maternal depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed at 12, 24, and 36 weeks of gestation using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Their children underwent a brain MRI examination at age 8 years with multi-shell diffusion imaging analyzed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI), and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) models for a multi-aspect evaluation of microstructural development. Key diffusion metrics (FA: fractional anisotropy; MD: mean diffusivity; AD: axial diffusivity; RD: radial diffusivity; MK: mean kurtosis; AK: axial kurtosis; RK: radial kurtosis; NDI: neurite density index; ODI: orientation dispersion index; FWF: free water fraction) were extracted from the limbic system white matter structures including cingulum, fornix, and uncinate fasciculus, which are closely associated with emotional and motivational processes.ResultsHigher maternal depression symptom scores were associated with lower FA (R = –0.3126, p = 0.0305, in CGH.R; R = –0.3025, p = 0.0366, in FXC.R) and MK (R = –0.3284, p = 0.0227, in CGG.R) and higher MD (R = 0.2879, p = 0.0472, in CGH.R) and RD (R = 0.3451, p = 0.0163, in CGH.R; R = 0.3456, p = 0.0161, in FXC.R) in predominately right-hemisphere limbic tracts. Higher maternal anxiety symptom scores were associated with increased MD (R = 0.2897, p = 0.0458, in FXC.L; R = 0.2859, p = 0.0488, in UF.L) and RD (R = 0.3168, p = 0.0283, in FXC.L), decreased NDI (R = –0.3787, p = 0.0079, in FXC.L; R = –0.3422, p = 0.0173, in UF.R), and increased AK (R = 0.3154, p = 0.029, in UF.L) in predominately left-hemisphere limbic tracts.ConclusionOur findings suggest that maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy may have long-lasting impacts on offspring white matter microstructure maturation in the limbic system. This highlights the need for prenatal mental health screening and potential interventions to promote brain development and support optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Brain white matter development in 8-year-old children is associated with maternal mental health during pregnancy
- Creators
- Yali Huang - University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesTimothy R. Koscik - University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesAline Andres - University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesJayne Bellando - University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesCharles M. Glasier - University of Arkansas for Medical SciencesAdhitya Ram - University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United StatesXiawei Ou - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in human neuroscience, Vol.19, 1603022
- DOI
- 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1603022
- PMID
- 40606496
- PMCID
- PMC12213767
- NLM abbreviation
- Front Hum Neurosci
- ISSN
- 1662-5161
- eISSN
- 1662-5161
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Grant note
- Agriculture Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture: 6026-10700-001-000D National Institute of Health: R01 HD099099
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Agriculture Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (6026-10700-001-000D) and was partly supported by the National Institute of Health (R01 HD099099).
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry
- Record Identifier
- 9984833487402771
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