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Chapter 6 - Long-Term Effects of Prenatal Maternal Stress and Mental Health

from Section II - Exposures Driving Long-Term DOHaD Effects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2022

Lucilla Poston
Affiliation:
King's College London
Keith M. Godfrey
Affiliation:
University of Southampton
Peter D. Gluckman
Affiliation:
University of Auckland
Mark A. Hanson
Affiliation:
University of Southampton
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Summary

Psychosocial stress as well as anxiety and depression, which are accompanied by dysregulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, are common during pregnancy and the postpartum period. They are major determinants of offspring health, ultimately leading to a risk for cognitive and behavioural problems. In addition, maternal stress and post-traumatic stress disorders perceived during the preconception period may affect offspring neuropsychiatric outcomes. Increased maternal cortisol levels epigenetically desensitize fetal glucocorticoid receptors, which induces hyperactivity of the offspring HPA axis. The risk for cognitive and behavioural problems is mediated by increased cortisol levels during later life. Additionally, cortisol-induced epigenetic changes in the expression of neurotrophic factors and genes involved in neuronal and synaptic development and neurotransmission play a key role in neuropsychiatric development. Other mediators comprise neuroinflammatory cytokines and changes in maternal and offspring gut microbiota. Important moderators of the risk for cognitive and behavioural problems in offspring are socioeconomic status of the family, paternal stress, post-natal maternal care and offspring gender.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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