In a recent study published in Nature Mental Health , researchers investigated whether prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) is related to variations in brain development, which may partially mitigate the relationship between PCE and increased psychopathology throughout early adolescence. PCE has been related to mental health problems in teenagers, although the underlying neurobiological pathways are unclear. Studies report increased cannabis usage during pregnancy despite warnings from health agencies and professional groups.
Unfavorable birth outcomes include low weight at birth and premature delivery. However, emerging research shows that PCE among humans is related to behavioral consequences such as increased psychopathological illness and worse cognition. Understanding cannabis usage safety during gestation and its effects on neonatal health is critical.
In the present longitudinal study, researchers examined the relationship between PCE and maternal understanding of pregnancy. They anticipated that children with prenatal exposure to cannabis would have stronger relationships with cannabis exposure after their mothers were aware of their pregnancy. They additionally investigated whether brain measurements were related to psychopathology through early teenage years and whether brain differences partially explained these associations.
The researchers examined the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data, which included 11,875 youngsters. They studied 16,641 find.