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Prenatal inflammation linked to better and worse midlife thinking

In a cohort of 137 mother–offspring pairs, links between prenatal inflammation and cognitive performance at ages 57–62 differed by pregnancy stage.

Paper by Linda J. Hoffman, Emma C. Smith, Madeline R. Pike, 9 more authorsLauren M. Ellman · Temple University
Fig. 1. A schematic overview of the cognitive tests under study, the domains they target, and the acronyms used to refer to them in the text.
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Fig. 1. A schematic overview of the cognitive tests under study, the domains they target, and the acronyms used to refer to them in the text.A schematic overview of the cognitive tests under study, the domains they target, and the acronyms used to refer to them in the text.Hoffman et al.
Cohort study of 137 mother-offspring dyads, approximately six decadesPopulations

Limit: Cognitive decline over time was not measured

Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News

Paper
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An observational study of 137 mother–offspring pairs from the Child Health and Developmental Studies cohort examined offspring cognitive performance at ages 57–62. Researchers used measures of inflammation-related proteins in maternal blood from the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Offspring took tests of memory and other thinking abilities.

After accounting for maternal education, higher levels of certain first-trimester inflammation markers were associated with better executive control—the ability to manage thoughts and actions—and working memory, which holds information briefly for use. Higher levels of certain second-trimester inflammation markers were associated with poorer executive control, working memory, verbal intelligence and verbal memory. The associations differed across the proteins measured.

Why it matters

The study addressed whether conditions before birth may relate to cognitive abilities in later life, rather than only during early development.

Caveats

This observational study could not establish cause and effect or show cognitive decline over time. The findings came from one cohort of 137 mother–offspring pairs.

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