The study observed preschool-aged children with prenatal cannabis exposure and found they showed poorer control over impulses and emotions.
Key Facts: Prenatal cannabis exposure affects impulse control, attention, and aggression.
“Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Executive Function and Aggressive Behavior at Age 5 Years” by Sarah Keim et al.
Objective To prospectively investigate the association of prenatal cannabis exposure with executive function and aggressive behavior at age 5 years.
Exposure Cannabis exposure was measured prospectively by urine toxicology, maternal self-report, and obstetric record abstraction.
Summary: According to recent studies, cannabis exposure during pregnancy can have a detrimental effect on a child’s cognitive and behavioral abilities, such as impulse control, focus, and aggression, all of which are critical for success in school and in social situations. According to the study, preschool-aged children exposed to cannabis during pregnancy had less emotional and impulse control.
These results are consistent with previous studies and highlight concerns regarding cannabis use during pregnancy as its potency has grown over time. To manage pregnancy symptoms, experts advise pregnant women to stay away from cannabis and speak with their doctors about safer options. Cannabis use during pregnancy is discouraged by major pediatric and obstetric organizations because it may pose health risks to both the mother and the unborn child.
Key Facts:.
Cannabis exposure during pregnancy has an impact on aggression, attention, and impulse control.
Compared to previous decades, the increased potency of cannabis today may increase the risks.
Safer substitutes are suggested by experts to treat pregnancy-related symptoms.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital is the source.
As cannabis has become legal and more widely available nationwide, medical professionals are growing more concerned about the possible effects on children.
There is already proof that cannabis exposure prior to birth can have a detrimental effect on children, and new research from Nationwide Children’s Hospital supports this theory.
Researchers discovered in a study published today in JAMA Pediatrics that prenatal cannabis exposure was linked to poorer thinking abilities and behaviors in early childhood, including more aggressive behavior, impulse control, paying attention, and planning ability. These behaviors and thinking skills are all critical to how children behave in social situations and perform in school.
“Despite being a natural product, there are still a lot of risks associated with using cannabis during pregnancy,” stated Sarah Keim, PhD, the study’s lead author and principal investigator at Nationwide Children’s Center for Biobehavioral Health.
In order to cope with common pregnancy problems like stress, nausea, and sleep issues, some women may turn to cannabis. We do not advise doing this. To find safer solutions to help with these problems during pregnancy, it’s crucial to speak with a healthcare professional. “.”.
Researchers employed a number of tests, such as asking parents about their child’s usual behaviors and measuring preschool-aged children’s abilities in impulse control, focus, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.
According to the findings, when researchers watched children using cannabis in a play laboratory setting, they exhibited more aggressive behavior and had more trouble controlling their impulses, paying attention, and planning.
“Our results were not unexpected; in fact, they support and add to established evidence from earlier studies,” Dr. Dot Keim stated.
Because of our more modern and varied sample of women and children, as well as the fact that cannabis is far more potent now than it was decades ago, this study confirms earlier findings and backs up current clinical guidelines for patients. “.”.
Cannabis use during pregnancy is discouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists due to potential health risks to both mothers and their unborn children.
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Nationwide Children’s Hospital is the source.
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Initial Study: Restricted access.
“Cannabis Exposure During Pregnancy and Executive Function and Aggressive Behavior at Age 5 Years” by Sarah Keim and colleagues. Pediatrics, JAMA.
Abstract.
Cannabis exposure during pregnancy and 5 years of age, along with executive function and aggressive behavior.
relevance.
In the United States, cannabis use during pregnancy is becoming more widespread and may have an impact on preschool-aged children’s behavior and development.
Goal.
to prospectively look into the relationship between cannabis exposure during pregnancy and aggressive behavior and executive function at age five.
Participants, Design, and Setting.
The time frame for this cohort study was 2016–2020. Analysis of the data took place between 2022 and 2024. Pregnancy research repository enrollment was open to patients 16–50 years old who could speak English and planned to give birth at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Children born May 25, 2010, through February 7, 2016 (n = 355) who consented to future contact and whose child or children were assumed to be alive were invited to re-participate at age five; 250 children (70 percent) did so.
publicity.
Cannabis exposure was assessed prospectively using obstetric record abstraction, maternal self-report, and urine toxicology.
primary results and metrics.
Using a multimodal assessment, staff members disguised their exposure status measure executive function and aggressive behavior. Results were predetermined.
Results.
80 children (32 percent) out of 250 were exposed to cannabis. The prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use during pregnancy ranged from 22% to 39%. Most families were impoverished.
The children were divided as follows: 155 were Black/African American, non-Hispanic (62 percent); 11 were Hispanic (4 percent); 34 were non-Hispanic and indicated more than one race (14 percent); and 50 were White, non-Hispanic (20 percent).
The National Institutes of Health Toolbox’s age-corrected standard scores for children’s attention and inhibitory control were approximately 0 to 4 standard deviations lower for cannabis-exposed children than for unexposed children (β = -6 to 1 points; 95 percent CI, -10 to 1 point4) after confounder adjustment and propensity score weighting.
Additionally, children who were exposed showed more aggression and a lower capacity for task-based planning. Laboratory tests of other executive functioning components and caregiver evaluations of behavior and executive function did not differ based on exposure status.
Conclusions and Pertinence.
The findings from this current US cohort, where cannabis exposure during pregnancy was widespread, showed that exposed children showed some differences in behavior and executive function related to long-term academic success and adaptive functioning. Clinical guidelines for cannabis use during pregnancy may be improved in light of these findings.
