Cortisol Reactivity in Two-Year-Old Children Prenatally Exposed to Methamphetamine

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: Until now, the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in children with prenatal methamphetamine exposure (PME) had been unexamined. Previous research indicates that prenatal exposure to stimulant drugs is associated with dose-response alterations in neural growth and connectivity and consequent neurobehavioral defi cits. In addition, children of drug-using parents are at an increased risk for exposure to chronic postnatal stress. In this preliminary study, we examined the associations of PME and postnatal environmental stress with cortisol stress reactivity in children with PME. Method: Participants were 2-year-old children (N = 123; 55.3% male) with PME from a multicenter longitudinal Infant, Development, Environment, and Lifestyle Study. Saliva samples were obtained before and after a stress-inducing separation task. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses examined prenatal drug exposure, methodological and postnatal stress covariates, and interactions between levels of PME and postnatal stress. Results: Mild to moderate potential for child physical abuse moderated increased cortisol reactivity in high exposed children with PME. Blunted cortisol reactivity was associated with caregiver's postnatal alcohol use, child's behavioral dysregulation, and the interaction between higher levels of PME and caregiver's psychopathology. Conclusions: Consistent with the known effects of stimulant drugs and chronically stressful environments on the HPA axis and, thus, the toxic stress and allostatic load phenomena, our results imply that elevated PME may be associated with alterations in the programming of the HPA axis refl ecting hyperactivity, which under signifi cant and chronic environmental stress then may become hypoactive. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 74, 447-451, 2013)

Methamphetamine and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

“…However, there are few investigations of either short- or long-term effects of early developmental MA exposure, particularly in the context of alterations in the HPA axis function. A 2-year follow up study of children prenatally exposed to MA found that stress-induced cortisol levels were significantly higher in MA-exposed infants (Kirlic et al, 2013 ). Behavioral effects that may be associated with HPA axis alterations in prenatal MA exposed human offspring include altered arousal in infants (Smith et al, 2012 ; Kiblawi et al, 2014 ) and increased emotional reactivity and anxiety/depressed behavior in 3–5 year olds (LaGasse et al, 2012 ; Abar et al, 2013 ).…”

Child Effects on Parental Negativity: The Role of Heritable and Prenatal Factors

“…However, this finding of less reactivity in children whose mothers used illicit drugs while pregnant has not been consistently replicated across studies. Specifically, toddlers whose mothers used illicit drugs (mainly cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamine) during pregnancy displayed more negative reactivity during emotionally distressful situations (e.g., “still‐face” procedure, arm restraint task) and were rated as more negatively reactive (e.g., difficult) by their mothers than toddlers whose mothers did not use drugs during pregnancy (e.g., Kirlic et al, 2013; Metosky & Vondra, 1995). Of note, during early childhood, child negative reactivity in response to stressors is typically adaptive and normative at appropriate levels (Razza, Martin, & Brooks‐Gunn, 2012).…”

Longitudinal associations of age and prenatal lead exposure on cortisol secretion of 12–24 month-old infants from Mexico City

“…Prenatal lead (Pb) exposure has been consistently associated with a number of adverse health effects that overlap with cortisol function, including growth [ 5 , 6 ] and altered neurodevelopment [ 7 – 9 ]. Research on environmental chemical toxicants and their effects on infant or early childhood HPA axis functioning which regulates cortisol excretion [ 10 – 12 ] remains limited. Studies on lead exposure and cortisol have mixed results, showing an increase or no change in cortisol production in 9 year old children and in occupationally exposed to lead male workers respectively [ 13 – 15 ].…”