Effects of maternal stress and nutrient restriction during gestation on offspring neuroanatomy in humans

Katja Franke; Bea R H Van den Bergh; Susanne R de Rooij; Nasim Kroegel; Peter W Nathanielsz; Florian Rakers; Tessa J Roseboom; Otto W Witte; Matthias Schwab

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.031

Effects of maternal stress and nutrient restriction during gestation on offspring neuroanatomy in humans

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 Oct:117:5-25. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.031. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Authors

Katja Franke¹, Bea R H Van den Bergh², Susanne R de Rooij³, Nasim Kroegel⁴, Peter W Nathanielsz⁵, Florian Rakers⁶, Tessa J Roseboom⁷, Otto W Witte⁶, Matthias Schwab⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. Electronic address: katja.franke@uni-jena.de.
² Research Group on Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department for Welfare, Public Health and Family, Flemish Government, Brussels, Belgium.
³ Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; acatech - National Academy of Science and Engineering, Berlin, Germany.
⁵ Texas Pregnancy & Life Course Health Research Center, Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United States; Dept. of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States.
⁶ Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
⁷ Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Cognitive and mental health are major determinants of quality of life, allowing integration into society at all ages. Human epidemiological and animal studies indicate that in addition to genetic factors and lifestyle, prenatal environmental influences may program neuropsychiatric disorders in later life. While several human studies have examined the effects of prenatal stress and nutrient restriction on brain function and mental health in later life, potentially mediating effects of prenatal stress and nutrient restriction on offspring neuroanatomy in humans have been studied only in recent years. Based on neuroimaging and anatomical data, we comprehensively review the studies in this emerging field. We relate prenatal environmental influences to neuroanatomical abnormalities in the offspring, measured in utero and throughout life. We also assess the relationship between neuroanatomical abnormalities and cognitive and mental disorders. Timing- and gender-specific effects are considered, if reported. Our review provides evidence for adverse effects of an unfavorable prenatal environment on structural brain development that may contribute to the risk for cognitive, behavioral and mental health problems throughout life.

Keywords: Brain development; Brain morphology; MRI; Maternal anxiety; Maternal depression; Maternal stress; Nutrient restriction; Pregnancy; Prenatal malnutrition.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Female
Humans
Mental Disorders*
Neuroanatomy
Nutrients
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
Quality of Life
Stress, Psychological

Grants and funding

U19 AG057758/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States