Offspring IQ Research Articles

Association of maternal thyroglobulin with gestational thyroid function and offspring IQ and brain morphology.

Low maternal urinary iodine concentration (UIC) during pregnancy is associated with adverse offspring neurodevelopment. Thyroglobulin (Tg) has been suggested as a more sensitive biomarker than UIC of long-term iodine status, but associations of Tg with neurodevelopment and the possible mediating role of thyroid function remain unknown. To study whether maternal Tg is associated with i) maternal and newborn thyroid function and ii) offspring IQ and brain morphology. Participants were selected from two population-based prospective cohorts: Generation R (the Netherlands, iodine-sufficient) and INfancia y Medio Ambiente (Spain, mildly iodine-deficient) with maternal Tg and thyroid function data in the first half of pregnancy or in cord blood, early childhood IQ (age 4.5 and 6 years), late childhood IQ (age 9 and 13), or brain morphology at 10 years. Associations of Tg with TSH, FT4, IQ and brain morphology were studied with multivariable linear regression. i) Tg was associated with lower TSH (-0.12[-0.16; -0.08]) and higher FT4 (0.08[0.05;0.12]) in pregnancy (N=4,367), but not with cord blood TSH or FT4 (N=2,008). ii) Tg was associated with lower IQ in early childhood (β[95% CI]:-0.06 [-0.10; -0.01], N=2,919), but not with IQ (N=2,503) or brain morphology (N=1,180) in later childhood. None of the associations of Tg with the studied outcomes differed by the iodine-to-creatinine ratio (i.e. effect modification) or changed when adjusted for thyroid function. Higher Tg is associated with lower IQ in early childhood and higher thyroid function during pregnancy, but not with IQ or brain morphology in later childhood. Further research should determine the value of Tg in addition to UIC for defining iodine status.

The association of maternal thyroid function with offspring iq and brain morphology: persistency into early adolescence and relevance of tpoab positivity

The association of maternal thyroid function with offspring iq and brain morphology: persistency into early adolescence and relevance of tpoab positivity

Maternal mental health and offspring's IQ: Evidence from two Brazilian birth cohorts

Maternal mental health during different stages of life can have a significant impact on a child's cognitive development. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal CMD at two distinct stages of the offspring's life (at 3 months and 11 years) and their IQ scores at 6 and 18 years across two birth cohorts. The study utilized data from two Brazilian birth cohorts: the 1993 cohort (full sample: N = 3719, subsample: N = 436), and the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort (N = 3440). IQ assessments were conducted at ages 18 and 6, employing the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, third version (WAIS-III), and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, third version (WISC-III), respectively. The presence of maternal CMD at 3 months and 11 years of age was evaluated using the Brazilian version of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). After adjustment, participants whose mothers experienced CMD at 3 months had average IQ scores 1.74 (95 % CI: −2.83 to −0.67) and 2.79 (95 % CI: −5.54 to −0.04) points lower at ages 6 (2004 cohort) and 18 (1993 cohort subsample), respectively. Furthermore, in the 1993 cohort (both full and subsample), maternal CMD at 11 years was associated with lower IQ scores at age 18. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this association, emphasized by these findings, is crucial for promoting children's cognitive development, educational achievement, and overall well-being.

Prenatal Exposure to Nonpersistent Chemical Mixtures and Offspring IQ and Emotional and Behavioral Problems.

Prenatal exposure to nonpersistent chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenols, and organophosphate (OP) pesticides is ubiquitous and occurs in mixtures. So far, epidemiological studies investigating neurodevelopmental consequences of these exposures have mainly been restricted to single-pollutant models. Thus, we studied the association between prenatal exposure to nonpersistent chemical mixtures and child IQ and emotional and behavioral problems. Data came from 782 mother-child pairs. Eleven phthalate, one bisphenol, and five OP pesticide urinary exposure biomarkers were measured three times during pregnancy and averaged. Nonverbal IQ, internalizing and attention problems, aggressive behavior, and autistic traits were assessed at child age 6 years. We used quantile g-computation to estimate the change in each outcome per quartile increase in all chemicals within the mixture. Higher exposure to the mixture was associated with lower nonverbal IQ (-4.0 points (95%CI = -7.0, -1.0), -5.5 points (95%CI = -10.2, -0.9), and -4.6 points (95%CI = -10.8, 1.5) for the second, third, and fourth quartile, respectively, compared to the first quartile). These results were mainly driven by the phthalate mixture. No association was observed with emotional and behavioral problems. Prenatal exposure to nonpersistent chemical mixtures was associated with lower nonverbal IQ in children. Exposure to chemical mixtures during gestation is universal and may impact neurodevelopment.

Iodine Supplementation in Mildly Iodine-Deficient Pregnant Women Does Not Improve Maternal Thyroid Function or Child Development: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Iodine deficiency during pregnancy may be associated with lower offspring IQ, but there are few data on the safety and efficacy of maternal iodine supplementation on child development. In a previously reported multi-center randomized trial conducted in Thailand and India, we assessed the effect of iodine supplementation in mildly iodine-deficient pregnant women on offspring development. In this secondary analysis of that trial, we report data only from the Thai pregnant women in the study, who were more iodine deficient at entry.Methods: Pregnant women in Bangkok, Thailand, were randomized to receive daily 200 μg oral iodine or placebo until delivery. We assessed thyroid size and thyroid function during pregnancy and cognitive and motor development at ages 1, 2, and 5.7 years. The trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT00791466.Findings: Women (n = 514) entered the trial between November 2008 and March 2011 at a mean ± SD gestational age of 11 ± 2.8 weeks; their median (IQR) UIC was 112 (75, 170) μg/L. Mean compliance with supplementation was 88%. We assessed 397 mothers in the 3rd trimester, 231 infants at age 2 y, and 157 children at mean age 5.7 y. During pregnancy, there was a slightly greater decrease in free and total thyroxine concentrations in the iodine group (p < 0.05). At age 2 years, the iodine group had borderline lower scores for combined fine and gross motor function (p = 0.05), but there were no other significant differences in development. At 5.7 years, there were no significant group differences in child development.Conclusion: Daily iodine supplementation in mildly iodine deficient pregnant women was associated with small negative effects on maternal thyroxine concentrations, but did not affect child development. The safety and efficacy of iodine supplementation in mildly-iodine deficient pregnant women needs to be evaluated further in large randomized controlled trials.

Mercury, methylmercury and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in selected fish species and comparison of approaches to risk-benefit analysis

Fish (n = 281) of six species, caught in New Zealand waters, were analysed for total mercury (t-Hg), methylmercury (MeHg) and the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Mean t-Hg and MeHg concentrations for the six species were in the range 0.06–0.53 mg/kg and 0.06–0.46 mg/kg, respectively. The mean proportion of t-Hg present as MeHg for the six species considered was in the range 83–93%. Positive associations were observed between t-Hg and MeHg content of fish and measures of fish size (length, weight), although the strength of the associations was species dependent. The mean EPA + DHA content of the six fish species varied in the range 2.0–20.5 mg/g. Two approaches were trialled to compare the risks, due to MeHg, and the benefits, due to EPA and DHA, from consumption of the six fish species. Both approaches identify that for these six fish species the benefits of normal patterns of fish consumption on offspring IQ largely outweigh the risks from MeHg.

Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and Offspring IQ

Research Article| December 01 2019 Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and Offspring IQ AAP Grand Rounds (2019) 42 (6): 70. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.42-6-70 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and Offspring IQ. AAP Grand Rounds December 2019; 42 (6): 70. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.42-6-70 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: fluorides, offspring, prenatal exposure Source: Green R, Lanphear B, Hornung R, et al. Association between maternal fluoride exposure during pregnancy and IQ scores in offspring in Canada. JAMA Pediatr. 2019; 173(10): 940– 948; doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1729Google Scholar Investigators from multiple institutions in Canada and the United States conducted a prospective study to assess the association between prenatal fluoride exposure and IQ in children. Participants were children of women from 6 Canadian cities who were enrolled in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals program during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy between 2008–2011. Prenatal exposure to fluoride was assessed using 2 measures. First, maternal urinary fluoride (MUF) concentration, adjusted for urine specific gravity, was the average fluoride concentration from 3 specimens collected during each trimester of pregnancy. The other estimate of exposure was based on self-reported consumption of tap water, tea, and coffee during the first and third trimesters; fluoride intake was then estimated based on the fluoride measurements at the water treatment plants serving the participants’ postal code. The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (third edition) was administered to study children when they were 3–4 years old. The primary outcome was Full Scale IQ (FSIQ). Regression analyses were used to assess the association of 1 mg changes in fluoride exposures (using each measure of exposure) with this outcome. The following covariates were included in the regression models: city, maternal education level, race/ethnicity, and quality of the home environment (quantified by Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment [HOME] scores) as well as a child sex interaction term. IQ testing was completed by 601 children. Of these, MUF data were available for 512 children, and maternal fluoride intake during pregnancy information was available for 400. Mean MUF concentrations were significantly higher for women living in communities with fluoridated drinking water than in those living in communities without fluoride supplementation (0.69 mg/L and 0.40 mg/L, respectively; P<.001). The overall estimated change in FSIQ for every 1 mg/L increase in MUF concentration was −1.95 (95% CI, −5.19, 1.28). There was a significant interaction between child sex and MUF. In boys, a 1 mg/L increase in MUF was associated with a −4.49 (95% CI, −8.38, −0.60) change in FSIQ. There was no statistically significant association between MUF in FSIQ in girls. Among women with fluoride intake data, 162 (40.5%) lived in cities with fluoridated drinking water, and 238 (59.5%) drank non-fluoridated tap-water during pregnancy. A 1 mg increase in daily maternal fluoride intake during pregnancy was associated with a change in FSIQ of −3.66 (95% CI, −7.16, −0.15) in study children, with no significant interaction between intake and child sex. The authors conclude that maternal exposure to higher levels of fluoride during pregnancy was associated with lower FSIQ in their children when they were 3–4 years old. Dr Chung has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. The AAP... You do not currently have access to this content.

Are observed associations between a high maternal prepregnancy body mass index and offspring IQ likely to be causal?

BackgroundA high maternal prepregnancy body mass index has been associated with lower offspring IQ, but it is unclear if the relationship is causal. To explore this, our objectives were to...

Intelligence in offspring born to women exposed to intimate partner violence: a population-based cohort study

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a risk factor for developmental problems in offspring. Despite a high prevalence of IPV in the UK and elsewhere, the longer-term outcomes of offspring born to exposed mothers remain under-researched. Methods: Population-based cohort study. We assessed IPV prevalence by type and timing for 3,153 mother-child pairs with complete data within our study population and examined associations between IPV and offspring IQ. We used multiple-imputation to evaluate bias due to our exclusion of observations with missing covariate data. Results: Nearly one in five mothers reported IPV during the study period, with 17.6% reporting emotional violence and 6.8% reporting physical violence. Taking into account potential confounders, the IQ scores of children born to mothers exposed to physical violence remained lower than those of maternally unexposed children (full-scale IQ = −2.8 points [95%CI −4.9 to −0.7], verbal IQ = −2.2 [95%CI −4.4 to −0.1], performance IQ = −2.7 [95%CI −5.0 to −0.5]) and odds of below-average intelligence (IQ<90) remained increased for full-scale (OR 1.48 [95%CI 1.03 to 2.14] and performance IQ (OR 1.48 [95%CI 1.08 to 2.04]) but not verbal IQ (OR 1.06 [95%CI 0.69 to 1.64]). Most physical violence occurred postnatally, and relative odds were most substantial when mothers were exposed to violence across pre-/perinatal and postnatal study periods (OR performance IQ<90 = 2.97 [95%CI 1.30 to 6.82]). Conclusions: Maternal exposure to physical IPV is associated with lower offspring IQ at age 8. Associations persisted after adjusting for potential confounders and were driven by violence occurring postnatally.

Intelligence in offspring born to women exposed to intimate partner violence: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a risk factor for developmental problems in offspring. Despite a high prevalence of IPV in the UK and elsewhere, the longer-term outcomes of offspring born to exposed mothers remain under-researched. Methods: Population-based cohort study. We assessed IPV prevalence by type and timing for 3,153 mother-child pairs with complete data within our study population and examined associations between IPV and offspring IQ. We used multiple-imputation to evaluate bias due to our exclusion of observations with missing covariate data. Results: Nearly one in five mothers reported IPV during the study period, with 17.6% reporting emotional violence and 6.8% reporting physical violence. Taking into account potential confounders, the IQ scores of children born to mothers exposed to physical violence remained lower than those of maternally unexposed children (full-scale IQ = -2.8 points [95%CI -4.9 to -0.7], verbal IQ = -2.2 [95%CI -4.4 to -0.1], performance IQ = -2.7 [95%CI -5.0 to -0.5]) and odds of below-average intelligence (IQ<90) remained increased for full-scale (OR 1.48 [95%CI 1.03 to 2.14] and performance IQ (OR 1.48 [95%CI 1.08 to 2.04]) but not verbal IQ (OR 1.06 [95%CI 0.69 to 1.64]). Most physical violence occurred postnatally, and relative odds were most substantial when mothers were exposed to violence across pre-/perinatal and postnatal study periods (OR performance IQ<90 = 2.97 [95%CI 1.30 to 6.82]). Conclusions: Maternal exposure to physical IPV is associated with lower offspring IQ at age 8. Associations persisted after adjusting for potential confounders and were driven by violence occurring postnatally.

Is breast feeding associated with offspring IQ at age 5? Findings from prospective cohort: Lifestyle During Pregnancy Study

ObjectivesBreast feeding is associated with health benefits for both mother and child, but many studies focusing on neurodevelopment have lacked information on important confounders and few randomised trials exist. Our...

Endocrine Disease

Endocrine disease has become increasingly prevalent in parturients, primarily due to the increase in prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Both preexisting diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes mellitus are associated with significant maternal and fetal complications. The Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome study demonstrated that not only was the presence of diabetes mellitus associated with complications during pregnancy but the degree of glycemic control also had an effect on the development of adverse events. Other than diabetes mellitus, the next most common endocrine disease encountered during pregnancy is thyroid disease, with hypothyroidism being more common than hyperthyroidism. Overt hypothyroidism has been shown to be associated with premature birth, low birth weight, pregnancy loss, reduction in offspring IQ, and the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension and, therefore, requires levothyroxine therapy throughout pregnancy. Hyperthyroidism is similarly associated with premature birth, low birth weight, pregnancy loss, hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, maternal heart failure, transient fetal hypothyroidism, neonatal Graves disease, and neonatal mortality. Additional endocrine diseases encountered in pregnancy include pheochromocytomas, prolactinomas, and primary hyperparathyroidism. Due to the rarity of these diseases, diagnosis is often delayed and can result in poor maternal and fetal outcomes. This review contains 6 figures, 5 tables, and 38 references. Key Words: diabetes, gestational, hyperglycemia, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, pheochromocytoma, prolactinoma

Thyroid hormones regulate neural stem cell fate

Thyroid hormones (THs) are vital for vertebrate brain function throughout life, from early development to ageing. Epidemiological studies show an adequate supply of maternal TH during pregnancy to be necessary for normal brain development, and this from the first trimester of onwards. Maternal TH deficiency irreversibly affects fetal brain development, increasing the risk of offspring cognitive disorders and IQ loss. Mammalian and non-mammalian (zebrafish, xenopus, chicken) models are useful to dissect TH-dependent cellular and molecular mechanisms governing embryonic and fetal brain development: a complex process including cell proliferation, survival, determination, migration, differentiation and maturation of neural stem cells (NSCs). Notably, rodent models have strongly contributed to understand the key neurogenic roles of TH still at work in adult life. Neurogenesis continues in two main areas, the sub-ventricular zone lining the lateral ventricles (essential for olfaction) and the sub-granular zone in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (involved in memory, learning and mood control). In both niches, THs tightly regulate the balance between neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis under physiological and pathological contexts. Understanding how THs modulate NSCs determination toward a neuronal or a glial fate throughout life is a crucial question in neural stem cell biology. Providing answers to this question can offer therapeutic strategies for brain repair, notably in neurodegenerative diseases, demyelinating diseases or stroke where new neurons and/or oligodendrocytes are required. The review focuses on TH regulation of NSC fate in mammals and humans both during development and in the adult.

The Association of Maternal Thyroid Autoimmunity During Pregnancy With Child IQ.

Thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb) positivity is a major risk factor for gestational thyroid dysfunction. During the first 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, high concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulate the thyroid to ensure adequate thyroid hormone availability for the developing fetus. However, TPOAb-positive women have an impaired thyroidal response to hCG stimulation. To study the association of maternal TPOAb positivity during pregnancy with child IQ. This study was embedded in two prospective birth cohorts: Generation R (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) and Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC; United Kingdom). Mother-child pairs with available data on early pregnancy TPOAb (≤18 weeks of gestation) and offspring IQ were included (n = 3637 for Generation R and n = 2396 for ALSPAC). Child IQ at 5 to 10 years of age. In Generation R, TPOAb positivity was associated with a 2.0 ± 0.9-point lower mean child IQ (P = 0.03). Sensitivity analyses showed negative effect estimates already from TPOAb concentrations considerably lower than currently used manufacturer cutoffs. In ALSPAC, neither TPOAb positivity nor TPOAb concentrations below manufacturer cutoffs were associated with child IQ (TPOAb positivity: 0.7 ± 1.0; P = 0.45). Adjustment for maternal TSH or free T4 concentrations or urinary iodine/creatinine ratio did not change the results. TPOAb positivity during pregnancy was associated with lower child IQ in Generation R but not in ALSPAC. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether differences between the study populations, such as maternal iodine status, could be the underlying cause for these differences.

Prenatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and IQ Scores at Age 5; a Study in the Danish National Birth Cohort.

Background:Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widespread persistent organic compounds that have been suggested to affect neurodevelopment.Objective:We aimed to evaluate whether prenatal exposure to PFASs is associated with IQ in children.Methods:We studied 1,592 pregnancies enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) during 1996–2002. Sixteen PFASs were measured in maternal plasma collected in early gestation. Child IQ was assessed at 5 y of age using the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scales of Intelligence–Revised (WPPSI-R) administered by trained psychologists. Using multivariable linear regression models, we estimated the differences in child IQ scores according to PFAS concentration [per natural-log (ng/mL) unit increase or values categorized in quartiles].Results:Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were detected in all samples, and five additional PFASs were quantified in of the samples. Overall, we found no strong associations between a natural-log unit increase in each of the seven PFASs we evaluated and child IQ scores. A few positive and negative associations were found in the sex-stratified PFAS quartile analyses, but the patterns were inconsistent.Conclusion:Overall, we did not find consistent evidence to suggest prenatal exposure to PFASs to be associated with child IQ scores at 5 y of age in the DNBC. Some of the sex-specific observations warrant further investigation. Additional studies should examine offspring IQ at older ages and assess other functional cognitive and neuropsychiatric measures in addition to intelligence. Postnatal exposures to PFASs and mixture effects for PFASs and PFASs with other environmental pollutants should also be considered in future research. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2754

Thyroid-disrupting chemicals and brain development: an update.

This review covers recent findings on the main categories of thyroid hormone–disrupting chemicals and their effects on brain development. We draw mostly on epidemiological and experimental data published in the last decade. For each chemical class considered, we deal with not only the thyroid hormone–disrupting effects but also briefly mention the main mechanisms by which the same chemicals could modify estrogen and/or androgen signalling, thereby exacerbating adverse effects on endocrine-dependent developmental programmes. Further, we emphasize recent data showing how maternal thyroid hormone signalling during early pregnancy affects not only offspring IQ, but also neurodevelopmental disease risk. These recent findings add to established knowledge on the crucial importance of iodine and thyroid hormone for optimal brain development. We propose that prenatal exposure to mixtures of thyroid hormone–disrupting chemicals provides a plausible biological mechanism contributing to current increases in the incidence of neurodevelopmental disease and IQ loss.

No Benefit of Levothyroxine Among Pregnant Hypothyroid and/or Hypothyroxinemic Women on Offspring IQ at Age 9 years

Clinical ThyroidologyVol. 30, No. 3 SummariesNo Benefit of Levothyroxine Among Pregnant Hypothyroid and/or Hypothyroxinemic Women on Offspring IQ at Age 9 yearsAngela M. LeungAngela M. LeungSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:1 Mar 2018https://doi.org/10.1089/ct.2018;30.100-103AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View articleFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 30Issue 3Mar 2018 InformationCopyright 2018 American Thyroid Association, Inc.To cite this article:Angela M. Leung.No Benefit of Levothyroxine Among Pregnant Hypothyroid and/or Hypothyroxinemic Women on Offspring IQ at Age 9 years.Clinical Thyroidology.Mar 2018.100-103.http://doi.org/10.1089/ct.2018;30.100-103Published in Volume: 30 Issue 3: March 1, 2018PDF download

The effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on the human organism

The development of civilization has not only improved the quality of life, but it is also responsible for increasing environmental pollution. Between 80000-100000 previously unknown chemicals have been estimated to circulate in the air. They include substances known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC). These substances can naturally be found in the environment and food, or are classified as pollutants. EDCs are said to change the functionality of the endocrine system and, in this way, exert an influence on other body functions. Substances such as bisphenol A, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins are part of the endocrine disrupting chemicals. Some of these compounds (bisphenol A, phthalates) are used in the production of daily necessities like plastic food storage containers, bottles, perfumes, and shampoos. Endocrine disrupting chemicals accumulate in the adipose tissue and have been detected in biological fluids, namely serum, urine, breast milk and amniotic fluid. Exposure to EDC may cause many negative health effects. Bisphenol A, for example, can lead to diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cancer, or fertility disorders. Classified as carcinogens, phthalates can cause reduced sperm count and testosterone levels, as well as damage to the liver, kidneys and the heart. Dioxins have also been found to exhibit carcinogenic properties. Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been linked to decreased IQ of offspring, among other problems. This article is a review of publications available on the medical databases such as Polish Medical Bibliography and PubMed-NCBI from the years 2005-2016, which covered endocrine disrupting chemicals and their influence on human beings.

Prenatal Internal Locus of Control Is Positively Associated with Offspring IQ, Mediated through Parenting Behavior, Prenatal Lifestyle and Social Circumstances.

Locus of control (LOC) is a measure that identifies the likelihood as to whether an individual considers what happens to him is largely a matter of luck or fate (known as externally oriented) or whether it is something that the individual can influence (internality). Here we have used data collected as part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to determine the associations between the mothers’ LOC orientation before the birth of the child and her child’s cognition measured at age 8. Using results from 6801 children we show that maternal internal LOC is associated with increased ability in offspring IQ, as measured using the WISC, with children of internally oriented mothers having an advantage of approximately 7 IQ points at age 8. As a sensitivity analysis we used the IQ test results of a sample of 986 preschool children tested using the WPSSI at age 4. A similar advantage was found among the offspring of the internally oriented mothers. We investigated mechanistic explanations for these results firstly by determining the extent to which three separate sets of factors known to be influenced by the LOC orientation might explain these findings. We showed that (a) perinatal life-style exposures, (b) parenting attitudes and strategies and (c) socio-economic circumstances, largely explain the mechanism through which the internality of the mother influences the cognition of the child. Similar effects were found using the smaller sample tested at age 4. The results indicate that efforts made to foster internality in adolescents and young adults prior to parenthood may result in improvements in the cognitive development of the next generation. Intervention studies are urgently needed.

Do children born to teenage parents have lower adult intelligence? A prospective birth cohort study.

Teenage motherhood has been associated with a wide variety of negative offspring outcomes including poorer cognitive development. In the context of limitations of previous research, this paper assesses the contemporary relevance of this finding. In this study we investigate the long-term cognitive status (IQ) among 21 year adult offspring born to teenage parents using the Mater University Study of Pregnancy- a prospective birth cohort study, which recruited all pregnant mothers attending a large obstetrical hospital in Brisbane, Australia, from 1981 to 1983. The analyses were restricted to a sub-sample of 2643 mother-offspring pair. Offspring IQ was measured using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test at 21 year. Parental age was reported at first clinic visit. Offspring born to teenage mothers (<20 years) have -3.0 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): -4.3, -1.8) points lower IQ compared to children born to mothers ≥20 years and were more likely to have a low IQ (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.3). Adjustment for a range of confounding and mediating factors including parental socioeconomic status, maternal IQ, maternal smoking and binge drinking in pregnancy, birthweight, breastfeeding and parenting style attenuates the association, though the effect remains statistically significant (-1.4 IQ points; 95% CI: -2.8,-0.1). Similarly the risk of offspring having low IQ remained marginally significantly higher in those born to teenage mothers (OR 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0, 1.9). In contrast, teenage fatherhood is not associated with adult offspring IQ, when adjusted for maternal age. Although the reduction in IQ is quantitatively small, it is indicative of neurodevelopmental disadvantage experienced by the young adult offspring of teenage mothers. Our results suggest that public policy initiatives should be targeted not only at delaying childbearing in the population but also at supporting early life condition of children born to teenage mothers to minimize the risk for disadvantageous outcomes of the next generation.