Prenatal maternal stress predicts autism traits in 6½ year-old children: Project Ice Storm

Walder, Deborah J.; Laplante, David P.; Sousa-Pires, Alexandra; Veru, Franz; Brunet, Alain; King, Suzanne

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2014.04.034

Cited by 151 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…For example, a higher prevalence of autism was associated with in utero exposure to severe tropical storms and ADHD risk was significantly increased following prenatal maternal bereavement (Kinney et al, 2008a;Li et al, 2010). In addition, children whose mothers experienced high stress levels during the 1998 Quebec Ice Storm exhibited reduced cognitive and language abilities and increased autistic-like traits (Laplante et al, 2008;Walder et al, 2014). Studies suggest susceptibility is greatest in the first half of gestation, a period of development where males and females appear differentially affected (Gerardin et al, 2011;Huttunen and Niskanen, 1978;Khashan et al, 2008;van Os and Selten, 1998;Walder et al, 2014).…”

Section: Prenatal Stress and Neuropsychiatric Vulnerabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, children whose mothers experienced high stress levels during the 1998 Quebec Ice Storm exhibited reduced cognitive and language abilities and increased autistic-like traits (Laplante et al, 2008;Walder et al, 2014). Studies suggest susceptibility is greatest in the first half of gestation, a period of development where males and females appear differentially affected (Gerardin et al, 2011;Huttunen and Niskanen, 1978;Khashan et al, 2008;van Os and Selten, 1998;Walder et al, 2014). Although males present more frequently with childhood behavioral disorders and intellectual impairment associated with prenatal stress, females acquire more subtle later-onset anxiety and affective disorders (Davis and Pfaff, 2014).…”

Section: Prenatal Stress and Neuropsychiatric Vulnerabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Placenta as a Mediator of Stress Effects on Neurodevelopmental Reprogramming

Bronson

Bale

2015

Neuropsychopharmacol

211

180

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Adversity experienced during gestation is a predictor of lifetime neuropsychiatric disease susceptibility. Specifically, maternal stress during pregnancy predisposes offspring to sex-biased neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorders. Animal models have demonstrated disease-relevant endophenotypes in prenatally stressed offspring and have provided unique insight into potential programmatic mechanisms. The placenta has a critical role in the deleterious and sex-specific effects of maternal stress and other fetal exposures on the developing brain. Stress-induced perturbations of the maternal milieu are conveyed to the embryo via the placenta, the maternal-fetal intermediary responsible for maintaining intrauterine homeostasis. Disruption of vital placental functions can have a significant impact on fetal development, including the brain, outcomes that are largely sex-specific. Here we review the novel involvement of the placenta in the transmission of the maternal adverse environment and effects on the developing brain.

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Section: Prenatal Stress and Neuropsychiatric Vulnerabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Prenatal Stress and Neuropsychiatric Vulnerabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Placenta as a Mediator of Stress Effects on Neurodevelopmental Reprogramming

Bronson

Bale

2015

Neuropsychopharmacol

211

180

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Indeed, there is some evidence that prenatal maternal stress is a risk factor for ASD. 53,54 In addition, a growing body of research suggests that early prenatal stress affects inhibitory neurons in the brain, which have been implicated in the pathophysiology of ASD. 55 An alternative mechanism could be through maternal inflammation because there is evidence of significant systemic inflammatory activity up to 9 to 10 weeks postpartum.…”

Section: Main Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth Spacing and Risk of Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review

2016

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“…Although the number of exposed pregnancies was small (89 pregnancies), outcome studies for the 1998 Quebec Ice Storm Disaster have reported greater autism traits, lower cognitive abilities, increased risk for eating disorders, and changes in DNA methylation in peripheral tissues [42-45]. …”

Section: Antenatal Gc Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and the Fetus

2018

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Glucocorticoids (GCs), cortisol in humans, influence multiple essential maturational events during gestation. In the human fetus, fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, fetal adrenal steroidogenesis, placental 11β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 activity, maternal cortisol concentrations, and environmental factors impact fetal cortisol exposure. The beneficial effects of synthetic glucocorticoids (sGCs), such as dexamethasone and betamethasone, on fetal lung maturation have significantly shifted the management of preterm labor and threatened preterm birth. Accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to sGCs in utero at critical developmental stages can alter the function of organ systems and that these effects may have sequelae that extend into adult life. Maternal stress and environmental influences may also impact fetal GC exposure. This article explores the vulnerability of the fetal HPA axis to endogenous GCs and exogenous sGCs.

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Prenatal maternal stress predicts autism traits in 6½ year-old children: Project Ice Storm

Cited by 151 publications

References 71 publications

The Placenta as a Mediator of Stress Effects on Neurodevelopmental Reprogramming

The Placenta as a Mediator of Stress Effects on Neurodevelopmental Reprogramming

Birth Spacing and Risk of Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and the Fetus

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