Prenatal depression is linked to developmental and behavioral issues in children and an increased risk of developing depression before reaching adulthood. But the reason behind this impact is not widely explained. Now, new research from the University of Calgary attempts to understand this complex fetal process.
UCalgary researcher Dr. Catherine Lebel and a team of experts may have the answers as to how behavioral and developmental issues occurs before birth. They found that babies born to mothers who exhibited symptoms of depression during pregnancy have weakened connectivity in the pathways of the brain responsible for emotions. These changes, according to the research team, can be linked to aggression and increased hyperactivity in boys.
The research is based on an imaging technique called diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, which can probe the strength of the structural connections between regions of the brain. A paper describing the research has been published in The Journal of Neuroscience.
The research involved more than 50 mothers and their children, all of them, participants in an ongoing study called the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition study. Mothers were given a set of questionnaires about symptoms of depression during their pregnancy.
After giving birth, their children were followed, and by age four, they were given an MRI scan. Six months after the scan, the behavior of the children was assessed.
It was found that there was a decrease in structural brain connectivity between the frontal cortex and the amygdala. This weakened connectivity is a contributing factor to depression and disruptive behaviors.
According to the team, it is important to recognize prenatal depression and seek intervention. The results of the study suggest there is a correlation between a child's brain development and the prenatal environment, and continuous studies will enable experts to understand why babies born to depressed mothers are more likely to develop depression themselves.
Lebel and her team of researchers are currently studying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of pregnant women. Interested individuals may take part in the Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic study at the University of Calgary. The study has so far enrolled more than 7,000 women across Canada.
"It is critical to appropriately recognize and treat prenatal maternal mental health problems, both for the mothers and to improve child outcomes," Lebel said. "Now more than ever, with increased stress, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, we should do more to support mothers to positively impact the health of their children."
