Cannabis industry strongest in pandemic 1:08
(CNN) -
More and more women are using marijuana during pregnancy, but they may want to think twice.
Researchers have found a link between marijuana use among pregnant women and autism and childhood psychosis.
Now a small study has shown how cannabis use can affect the placenta and may be linked to higher levels of anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity in children.
Researchers in the US analyzed 322 New York City-based mother-child pairs that were part of a larger research project on stress in pregnancy.
When the children were 3 to 6 years old, hormone levels were measured from hair samples, EKG records were used to measure heart function, and behavioral and emotional functioning were assessed based on parent surveys.
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The study team also examined placental tissue collected at birth from some of the participants.
"This new study supports growing evidence that smoking cannabis during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes for women and their children," said Dr Daghni Rajasingam, consultant obstetrician and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the UK. , to the Science Media Center in London.
"We know from previous studies that cannabis use during pregnancy is linked to poor fetal brain development, stillbirth, low birth weight, and preterm delivery. This new evidence adds to these existing safety concerns, suggesting that the Cannabis use during pregnancy could lead to increased anxiety, aggression, hyperactivity and levels of the stress hormone cortisol in children, "he said.
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"Only a small sample of women and children was used in this study, and we would like more research to be done in this area."
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Negative impact of cannabis on children's mental health
The children of mothers who used cannabis during pregnancy showed higher anxiety, aggression, hyperactivity and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, compared to the children of mothers who did not use cannabis during pregnancy, the study found.
Analysis of placental tissue, which involved sequencing RNA, DNA-like molecules that are part of the genetic code, revealed that maternal cannabis use was associated with lower expression of immune-activating genes, including those cytokines, which are involved in protection against pathogens.
"This is a well-designed study, with a good methodology and a laboratory design with follow-up of the children. Interestingly, they were able to look at the signals from the placenta and link those findings with the childhood outcomes," said Dr. Darine. El-Chaâr, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and clinical researcher at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Canada, who was not involved in the research.
The results suggested that immunosuppression in the placenta related to cannabis use by the mother may increase the risk of mental health problems in early childhood, such as increased anxiety, the authors said.
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"We know that cannabinoid signaling plays a role in modulating stress, which is why some people use cannabis to reduce anxiety and relax," said Yoko Nomura, professor of psychology at The City University of New York's Queens College and Graduate. Center and first author of the document, in a press release.
"But our study shows that exposure to cannabis in utero has the opposite effect on children, causing them to have higher levels of anxiety, aggression and hyperactivity compared to other children who were not exposed to cannabis during pregnancy."
However, the study said that the full impact of maternal cannabis use on immune function "cannot be assessed solely from the expression of the placental gene."
The study took into account other factors that could explain the link between maternal marijuana use and anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity, including parents' age, education, marital status, and gender, age, and ethnicity. of the child.
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The authors said the study had a number of limitations, including the inability to verify the accuracy of cannabis use by women, information that was provided by the people involved in the study.
The researchers were also unable to examine prenatal and postnatal cannabis use separately.
"This is a human study and therefore there are many limitations, as we were unable to obtain detailed information on, for example, history of cannabis use. Also, we cannot control for various confounding factors (for example, style life, motherhood, genetics, etc.) and it would take a study of thousands of people to determine the relevance of various factors to outcome measures, "said study author Yasmin Hurd, President of Ward-Coleman Translational Neuroscience and Director from the Institute of Addictions at Mount Sinai, by email.
"Although cannabis is considered a safe drug, it can have long-term negative results in children. Talk to your doctor ... to find ways to potentially relieve morning sickness or anxiety during pregnancy."
Guidance from the former Director General of Health on using cannabis in pregnancy
In response to growing concern about the rise in marijuana use during pregnancy, former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams issued a statement advising against cannabis use during pregnancy in 2019.
"Recent increases in marijuana access and potency, coupled with misperceptions of marijuana safety, endanger our most precious resource - our nation's youth," he wrote.
Harmful effects can continue after birth with continued marijuana use, says the former Health Director's notice.
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"THC has been found in breast milk for up to six days after the last recorded consumption," the notice read.
"It can affect newborn brain development and result in hyperactivity, poor cognitive function, and other long-term consequences."
"Additionally, marijuana smoke contains many of the same harmful components as tobacco smoke. No one should smoke marijuana or tobacco around a baby."
CNN's Sandee La Motte contributed to this story.
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