Prenatal methamphetamine exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children from 1 to 3years

Abstract

Background: Despite the evidence that women world-wide are using methamphetamine (MA) during pregnancy little is known about the neurodevelopment of their children. Design: The controlled, prospective longitudinal New Zealand (NZ) Infant Development, Environment and Lifestyle (IDEAL) study was carried out in Auckland, NZ. Participants were 103 children exposed to MA prenatally and 107 not exposed. The Mental Developmental Index (MDI) and the Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID-II) measured cognitive and motor performance at ages 1, 2 and 3, and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale, Second Edition (PDMS-II) measured gross and fine motor performance at 1 and 3. Measures of the child’s environment included the Home Observation of Measurement of the Environment and the Maternal Lifestyle Interview. The Substance Use Inventory measured maternal drug use. Results: After controlling for other drug use and contextual factors, prenatal MA exposure was associated with poorer motor performance at 1 and 2 years on the BSID-II. No differences were observed for cognitive development (MDI). Relative to non-MA exposed children, longitudinal scores on the PDI and the gross motor scale of the PDMS-2 were 4.3 and 3.2 points lower, respectively. Being male and of Maori descent predicted lower cognitive scores (MDI) and being male predicted lower fine motor scores (PDMS-2) Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to MA was associated with delayed gross motor development over the first 3 years, but not cognitive development. However, being male and of Maori descent were both associated with poorer cognitive outcomes. Males in general did more poorly on tasks related to fine motor development.

Global motion perception is related to motor function in 4.5-year-old children born at risk of abnormal development

“…This is important because preterm birth and prenatal drug exposure have been found to independently affect motion coherence thresholds (Chakraborty, Anstice, Jacobs, LaGasse, et al, 2015; Guzzetta et al, 2009) and motor function (Moreira, Magalhães, & Alves, 2014; Wouldes et al, 2014). Therefore, our data suggest that there is a true association between motion coherence threshold and motor function, including among children with a range of developmental risk factors.…”

“…Specifically, moderate levels of neonatal hypoglycaemia (glucose concentration < 2.6 mm/l) have been associated with lower gross motor scores on the Bayley motor scale at 18 months of age (Lucas et al, 1988). In addition, 1 to 3-year-old children with prenatal exposure to methamphetamine had lower scores on the Peabody Developmental Motor scale than closely matched children without methamphetamine exposure (Wouldes et al, 2014). We reasoned that this variability would allow for the detection of any association between global motion perception and visuomotor control that may exist.…”

“…We expected that motor function would vary considerably within this group of children because both neonatal hypoglycemia (Lucas, Morley, & Cole, 1988) and prenatal drug exposure (Wouldes et al, 2014) affect motor development. Specifically, moderate levels of neonatal hypoglycaemia (glucose concentration < 2.6 mm/l) have been associated with lower gross motor scores on the Bayley motor scale at 18 months of age (Lucas et al, 1988).…”

Effects of Neonatal Methamphetamine and Stress on Brain Monoamines and Corticosterone in Preweanling Rats

“…Women of child-bearing age account for a substantial portion of MA users (SAMHSA 2014) and low SES serves as a chronic stressor linked to increases in cortisol reactivity (Clearfield et al 2014). We included a deprived environmental rearing situation (barren cage housing) to model chronic stress since MA exposure is typically evident in areas of lower SES, including increased stress and deprived situations (Diaz et al 2014; Wouldes et al 2014). Even though both MA and chronic stress are harmful, including in animal models, the extent to which they interact is unknown.…”

“…In addition to stress, methamphetamine (MA) use is associated with low SES on multiple predictor variables such as marital status (single-parent households), employment status, and lower educational attainment (Diaz et al 2014; Wouldes et al 2014). Pregnant women seeking treatment for MA dependence at federally funded treatment centers rose from 8 % in 1994 to 24 % in 2006, surpassing rates for both non-pregnant women (12 %) and men (7 %; Terplan et al 2009).…”