» Articles » PMID: 32948364

Maternal Influences on Fetal Brain Development: The Role of Nutrition, Infection and Stress, and the Potential for Intergenerational Consequences

Overview
Journal Early Hum Dev
Publisher Elsevier
Date 2020 Sep 19
PMID 32948364
Citations 38
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

An optimal early life environment is crucial for ensuring ideal neurodevelopmental outcomes. Brain development consists of a finely tuned series of spatially and temporally constrained events, which may be affected by exposure to a sub-optimal intra-uterine environment. Evidence suggests brain development may be particularly vulnerable to factors such as maternal nutrition, infection and stress during pregnancy. In this review, we discuss how maternal factors such as these can affect brain development and outcome in offspring, and we also identify evidence which suggests that the outcome can, in many cases, be stratified by socio-economic status (SES), with individuals in lower brackets typically having a worse outcome. We consider the relevant epidemiological evidence and draw parallels to mechanisms suggested by preclinical work where appropriate. We also discuss possible transgenerational effects of these maternal factors and the potential mechanisms involved. We conclude that modifiable factors such as maternal nutrition, infection and stress are important contributors to atypical brain development and that SES also likely has a key role.

Citing Articles

Granular cytoplasmic inclusions in astrocytes and microglial activation in the fetal brain of pigtail macaques in response to maternal viral infection.

Kapur R, Vo A, Li A, Li M, Munson J, Huang H Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2025; 13(1):55.

PMID: 40069869 PMC: 11895267. DOI: 10.1186/s40478-025-01970-9.


Maternal-fetal cytokine profiles in acute SARS-CoV-2 "breakthrough" infection after COVID-19 vaccination.

Packer C, Jasset O, Hanniford N, Brigida S, Demidkin S, Perlis R Front Immunol. 2025; 15:1506203.

PMID: 39845965 PMC: 11750656. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1506203.


California provider and advocate perspectives about opportunities to optimize nutrition services and resources in the first 1000 days.

Lindsay K, Robertson T, Leka H, Rosales A, Smilowitz J, Lucas C Reprod Female Child Health. 2025; 3(2.

PMID: 39830426 PMC: 11741669. DOI: 10.1002/rfc2.93.


Evidence mapping on barriers in accessing prenatal healthcare services among homeless women: a scoping review.

Lateef M, Pillay J BMC Health Serv Res. 2025; 25(1):87.

PMID: 39815298 PMC: 11737059. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-12147-w.


Relevance of diet in schizophrenia: a review focusing on prenatal nutritional deficiency, obesity, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Rarinca V, Vasile A, Visternicu M, Burlui V, Halitchi G, Ciobica A Front Nutr. 2024; 11:1497569.

PMID: 39734678 PMC: 11673491. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1497569.


References
1.
Meyer U . Prenatal poly(i:C) exposure and other developmental immune activation models in rodent systems. Biol Psychiatry. 2013; 75(4):307-15. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.07.011. View

2.
Crowther C, Ashwood P, Andersen C, Middleton P, Tran T, Doyle L . Maternal intramuscular dexamethasone versus betamethasone before preterm birth (ASTEROID): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2019; 3(11):769-780. DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30292-5. View

3.
Costello E, Compton S, Keeler G, Angold A . Relationships between poverty and psychopathology: a natural experiment. JAMA. 2003; 290(15):2023-9. DOI: 10.1001/jama.290.15.2023. View

4.
Lin Y, Wang S . Prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure increases depression-like behaviors and reduces hippocampal neurogenesis in adult rats. Behav Brain Res. 2013; 259:24-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.10.034. View

5.
Thompson W . Influence of prenatal maternal anxiety on emotionality in young rats. Science. 1957; 125(3250):698-9. DOI: 10.1126/science.125.3250.698. View