Lifestyle

Cannabis use during pregnancy is linked to aggression and anxiety in children, a study finds


Researchers have found a link between expectant mothers’ marijuana use and autosuggestion and childhood mental disorder. Now, a small study has shown how marijuana use can affect the placenta and may be linked to levels of anxiety, aggression and hyperactivity in children.

US researchers looked at 322 mother-child pairs based in New York City, who were part of a broader research project on stress during pregnancy. When children were 3 to 6 years old, hormone levels were measured from hair samples, electrocardiograms were used to measure heart function, and behavioral and emotional functioning were assessed based on parental surveys.

The team also looked at placental tissue collected at the time of birth from some of the participants.

Dr Daghni Rajasingam, consultant obstetrician and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said: “This new study supports the growing body of evidence that smoking cannabis during pregnancy has associated with adverse outcomes for women and their children. Science Media Center in London.

“We know from previous studies that cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with fetal brain development, stillbirth, low birth weight and preterm birth,” she said.

“Only a small sample of women and children were used in this study, and we wanted to see more studies done in this area.”

Negative impact on children’s mental health

Children of mothers who used marijuana during pregnancy reported anxiety, aggression, hyperactivity and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, compared with children of mothers who did not use marijuana during pregnancy. , from research.

Analysis of placental tissue, which involved sequencing RNA – molecules similar to DNA that are part of the genetic code – showed that maternal cannabis use was associated with lower expression Immune-activating genes, including cytokines, are involved in defense against pathogens.

Dr Darine El-Chaâr said: “This is a well-designed study, with good methodology and laboratory design with follow-up of children. , a fetal medicine specialist and operator clinical investigator at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Canada, who was not involved in the study.

Schizophrenia linked to marijuana use disorder is on the rise, study finds

The results suggest that placental immunosuppression associated with maternal cannabis use may increase the risk of mental health problems in childhood such as anxiety, the authors say. .

“We know that cannabinoid signaling plays a role in stress regulation, which is why some people use cannabis to reduce anxiety and relax,” said Yoko Nomura, professor of psychology at The Queens College and Graduate Center is part of the City University of New York and the paper’s first author, in a news release.

“But our study shows that exposure to cannabis in utero has the opposite effect on children, causing them to have increased levels of anxiety, aggression and hyperactivity compared to other children who do not.” exposure to marijuana during pregnancy.”

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However, the study says the full impact of a mother’s cannabis use on immune function “cannot be assessed from placental gene expression alone.”

The study took into account other factors that could explain the association between maternal marijuana use and anxiety, aggression and hyperactivity, including parental age, education level, marital status, and age. identity, sex, age and ethnicity of the child.

The authors said the study had several limitations, including being unable to verify the accuracy of women’s marijuana use, information provided by the individuals participating in the study. The researchers were also unable to examine prenatal and postpartum cannabis use separately.

“This was a human study and therefore has limitations as we were not able to obtain detailed information about the history of cannabis use. Also, we were unable to control for different problems ( e.g. lifestyle, parenting, genetics, etc) and study author Yasmin Hurd, Ward-Coleman Chair of Neuroscience and Director of the Institute of Addiction at Mount Sinai, said a study would be needed studies on thousands of individuals to determine how different factors relate to outcome measures.

“Although cannabis is considered a safe drug, it can have negative long-term outcomes for children. Talk to your doctor… to find a likely way. ease morning sickness or anxiety during pregnancy.”

A Guide to Former American Surgeons

In response to growing concern about the increasing use of weed during pregnancy, former US Surgeon General Jerome Adams issued a statement advising against the use of cannabis during pregnancy in 2019.

“The recent increase in access to cannabis and its potency, coupled with misconceptions about the safety of cannabis, endanger our most precious resource,” he wrote. the youth of our country,” he wrote.

Advice from the former General Surgeon says:

“THC has been found in breast milk for up to six days after the last documented use,” the advisory states. “It can affect an infant’s brain development and lead to hyperactivity, poor cognitive function and other long-term consequences.

“In addition, marijuana smoke contains many of the same harmful ingredients as tobacco smoke. No one should smoke marijuana or tobacco around a baby.”

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