Peer-reviewed article
F134. MATERNAL PRENATAL C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND ADOLESCENT NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES IN THE NORTHERN FINLAND BIRTH COHORT 1986
Ramsay H, Khandaker G, Surcel H, Veijola J ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined whether elevated inflammation markers in pregnant women's blood are associated with neurodevelopmental problems in their adolescent children. Using data from a large Finnish birth cohort followed since before birth, researchers found that mothers with high levels of C-reactive protein early in pregnancy were more likely to have children who reported hearing voices and had lower school grades at age 16. The findings suggest that prenatal immune activation may affect brain development and mental health in offspring.
Key points
- Mothers with highest tertile of prenatal C-reactive protein had children with increased odds of auditory hallucinations at age 16 (adjusted OR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.74)
- Maternal prenatal CRP was associated with poorer academic performance in offspring (beta=-0.08, 95% CI: -0.14, -0.03)
- Study included 7,600 mothers with prenatal CRP measurements and assessed 5,071 adolescents for psychotic experiences and 6,770 for academic performance
- Analysis controlled for sex and maternal education level
- Study demonstrates prospective association from prenatal exposure to adolescent outcomes using objective prenatal measurements
Limitations
This is an observational study showing associations, not causal proof. The study cannot determine whether elevated CRP itself causes the outcomes or whether it is a marker for other unmeasured maternal factors that affect child development.
Abstract
Abstract Background In utero exposure to infections is associated with adverse neurocognitive outcomes in the offspring. Elevated maternal prenatal serum inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), have been associated with increased risks of neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia, later in life. The objective of this study is to investigate the associations between elevated serum concentrations of CRP in early gestation, prospectively assayed in maternal sera, and adolescent psychotic experiences and academic performance. We hypothesised that elevated maternal CRP is associated with adolescent psychotic experiences and poorer academic performance. Methods Using data from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC1986), a prospective birth cohort including data since before birth, we examined the association between maternal CRP levels in early gestation (N=7,600) and adolescent psychotic experiences (n=396/5,071) and poorer academic performance (n=2,324/6,770), controlling for sex and maternal education level using multivariable regression analysis. Prior to analyses we determined there was sufficient power to detect small associations (OR>1.68) for these variables. Results After controlling for sex and maternal education, those in the highest tertile of prenatal maternal CRP had increased odds of auditory hallucinations (on the PROD-screen) at age 16 years (adjusted OR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.74), and poorer school academic performance (beta=-0.08, 95% CI: -0.14, -0.03). Discussion Maternal prenatal immune activation is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in adolescent offspring. This work extends previous findings regarding prenatal/childhood immune activation and clinical psychiatric diagnoses in adult offspring.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Prospective measurement of maternal serum C-reactive protein in early gestation and follow-up assessment of adolescent psychotic experiences and academic performance
- Population
- Children from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986, assessed at age 16 years (n=5,071 for psychotic experiences, n=6,770 for academic performance)
Key finding
Mothers in highest tertile of prenatal CRP had children with 1.38 times increased odds of auditory hallucinations at age 16
H et al. · PubMed Central (PMC) · 1 Apr 2018