BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Anxiety and depression during pregnancy have been associated with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. We aimed to study the in utero effects of maternal anxiety and depression on early brain development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnant women were recruited at $36 weeks of gestation for this prospective study. They were assessed for anxiety symptoms by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and for depression symptoms by the Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd Edition. After delivery, infant underwent an MR imaging examination of the brain without sedation, including DTI, for evaluation of white matter (WM) development. Infant fractional anisotropy values, a putative marker of WM integrity, were correlated with the mothers' State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory scores by using both tract-based spatial statistics and ROI methods.

Objective To investigate the effects of infant feeding mode on childhood cognition and language as the differential effects of infant feeding on development remain understudied. Methods Breastfed [BF, 174], cow's milk‐based formula‐fed [MF, 169], or soy protein‐based formula‐fed [SF, 161] children were longitudinally tested from age 3 to 60 months for neurodevelopment. Data were analyzed using mixed models while adjusting for multiple covariates. Sex differences were also assessed. Results Standard scores were within established norms for all groups. There were no differences in mental development to age 24 months, yet BF children had significantly higher motor development scores at age 3 months than SF children (99.1 versus. 97.2). BF children had significantly higher composite intelligence scores at 48 months than MF and SF children (113.4 versus. 109.6 and 108.4, respectively) and higher verbal intelligence scores than SF children at 48 (105.6 versus. 100.7) and 60 months (109.8 versus. 105.9). Greater total language scores at ages 36 and 48 months were found in BF children compared with children fed MF or SF ( p < .001), with differences between sexes for auditory comprehension. Higher total language scores at age 60 months were found between BF and SF (105.0 versus. 100.1). Conclusion Breastfeeding was associated with small, statistically significant, differences between children ages 3 and 5 years in verbal intelligence, expressive communication, and auditory comprehension with the latter having potential sexual dimorphic effects. Yet, these differences remain small and may not be of clinical relevance. Overall, MF and SF did not significantly differ.

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cortical development is essential for children's neurocognition. In this study, we evaluated how variations in cortical morphometry in normal children are associated with outcome differences in multiple domains of cognition. METHODS: Eight-year-old children were recruited for a brain MRI followed by a battery of neuropsychological assessments. The MRI scan included 3D-T1-weighted imaging for cortical morphometry in 34 regions defined by the Desikan atlas. The neuropsychological assessments included the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS) for IQ, Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF-4) for language, Children's Memory Scale (CMS) for memory, Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT-4) for academic skills, and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) for executive functions. The relationships between MRI measured cortical features, including gray matter volume, surface area, and cortical thickness for different brain regions and neuropsychological test scores, were evaluated using partial correlation analyses controlled for age and sex. RESULTS: RIAS/CELF-4/CMS/WRAT-4/BRIEF scores showed significant correlations (R: [.38-.44], P: [.005-.046]) with gray matter volume, surface area, or cortical thickness in multiple brain regions. Gray matter volume in the medial orbitofrontal/ventromedial prefrontal cortex appeared to be a sensitive marker for overall neurocognition as it significantly correlated with IQ, language, memory, and executive function behaviors. The superior temporal gyrus and banks of superior temporal sulcus appeared to be most sensitive to reflect overall language function as their cortical features consistently correlated with language-related test scores. CONCLUSIONS: Cortical morphometry significantly correlated with neuropsychological function in healthy children; certain regions/features may serve as sensitive imaging markers.

Objectives Recent studies indicate that adequate choline intake in pregnancy results in increased cognitive, motor, language, and behavioral scores in toddlers. The objective was to examine the relationship between maternal choline intake during pregnancy and children's developmental scores during the first two years of life. Methods De-identified secondary data from a longitudinal study (NCT#0,328,1851) involving women with normal weight, overweight, and class I obesity (BMI:18.5- 35 kg/m,2 N = 251) during pregnancy and their children were analyzed using Pearson's correlations and linear models. Dietary choline intake was obtained by analyzing 3-day food records at each trimester using the Nutrient Data System for Research. Cognitive, motor, language, social emotional, and adaptive behavioral scores at 1 and 2 years of age were derived from the administration of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). Results Adequate Intake (AI) for average maternal choline intake was only met by 4 of the 251 participants. Mean intake of maternal choline during pregnancy (281 mg/day) was significantly lower than the AI level of pregnant women (AI = 450 mg/day). Mean standard scores for Bayley-III domains were all within the normal range (102 for cognitive, 101 for motor, 96 for language, 109 for social-emotional, and 94 for adaptive behavior). Higher maternal choline intake yielded lower adaptive development at 12 months of age (P &lt; 0.001) and 24 months of age (P = 0.044) after adjusting for gestational age and birthweight. There were no associations between maternal choline intake and cognitive, motor, language and social-emotional scores at both ages. Conclusions In this cohort from Arkansas, maternal choline intake was not associated with four of the children's neurodevelopmental outcomes. Maternal Choline intake was negatively associated with the self-reported adaptive behavior scope, which is in contrast to previously published literature. It is important to note that infant development scores were all within normal range despite 98% of women not meeting the AI recommendations for dietary choline during pregnancy. Analyses of choline serum concentration from this cohort is underway to confirm these results. Funding Sources USDA ARS Project # 6026–51,000-012–06S, NIH R01 DK107516.