Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2-2018
Abstract
Exposure to early life adversity may disrupt the development and maturation of neurons and brain circuits, which, in turn, underlie neurodevelopment and mental illnesses. During fetal life, maternal adversity is conveyed to the developing brain via several molecular signals, including the stress hormone corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). Employing a large well characterized prospective cohort, we find that fetal exposure to placental-origin CRH levels predicts structural and functional brain outcomes in children. Specifically, elevated placental CRH levels portend thinning of selective cortical regions of exposed individuals, with commensurate cognitive and emotional deficits. Notably, the relations of placental-origin CRH to cortical thinning and childhood symptoms are sex-specific. In view of the established effects of CRH on survival and arborization of cortical neurons, these findings position placental CRH as an important mediator of the consequences of early-life adversity on neuropsychiatric outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Sandman, C. A., Curran, M. M., Davis, E. P., Glynn, L. M., Head, K., & Baram, T. Z. (2018). Cortical thinning and neuropsychiatric outcomes in children exposed to prenatal adversity: A role for placental CRH? American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(5), 471-479. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16121433
Copyright
American Psychiatric Publishing
Included in
Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Medical Neurobiology Commons, Nervous System Commons, Neurology Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in American Journal of Psychiatry, volume 175, issue 5, in 2018 following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16121433.