Cannabis use during pregnancy is on the rise, prompting interest in further study of how prenatal exposure to the substance impacts neurological development.
In the current study, researchers examined the effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on executive function and aggressive behavior at 5 years old.
To do so, they measured cannabis exposure among a sample of pregnant women from urine tests, maternal self-reports, and obstetric record abstraction. The women were then invited to participate again once their children had reached five years old. A total of 250 children participated, 32% of whom were exposed to cannabis in the womb.
Ultimately, the researchers found that children previously exposed to cannabis exhibited significantly lower attention and inhibitory control than those unexposed. Exposed children also displayed lower task-based planning ability and more aggression. Caregiver ratings of executive function and behavior, as well as lab assessments of other aspects of executive functioning, were not affected by cannabis exposure.
"Our findings were not surprising- they actually confirm and expand on longstanding evidence from previous research," said lead author of the study, Dr. Sarah Keim, PhD, principal investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
"With our more contemporary and diverse sample of women and children, and with much higher potency of cannabis now than in past decades, this study validates previous research and supports existing clinical recommendations for patients,” she added.
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists caution against cannabis use during pregnancy due to possible health risks to mothers and children.
Sources: Science Daily, JAMA Pediatrics
