Longitudinal cognitive development of children born to mothers with opioid and polysubstance use

Abstract

Background:Previous studies indicate an increased risk for neuropsychological difficulties in young children prenatally exposed to opioids and polysubstances, but longitudinal information is scarce. The present longitudinal study investigated whether these waned, persisted, or increased over time.Methods:The cognitive functioning of 72 children with prenatal opioid and polysubstance exposure and 58 children without any established prenatal risk was assessed at 1, 2, 3, 4½, and 8½ y.Results:The exposed boys had significantly and stably lower levels of cognitive functioning than the control group, whereas there were increasing differences over time for the girls. The exposed group had significantly lower IQ scores than the control group on Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised at 8½ y after controlling for earlier cognitive abilities, and for children who were permanently placed in adoptive/foster homes before 1 y of age and whose mothers used heroin as their main drug during pregnancy (B = 17.04, 95% CI 8.69–25.38, P < 0.001).Conclusion:While effects of prenatal substance exposure cannot be isolated, group effects on cognition rather increased than waned over time, even in adoptive/foster children with minimal postnatal risk.

Cognitive function of youths born to mothers with opioid and poly-substance abuse problems during pregnancy

“…It is possible that cognitive problems increase over time for this vulnerable group, as described in one of the few previous longitudinal studies of youths who were prenatally exposed to opioids and multiple substances (Ornoy et al, 2010). The findings of clearer group differences in the cognitive abilities of youth compared to earlier studies of the same sample at up to 4.5 years of age indicate that the children's problems did not decline (Moe, 2002a;Moe & Slinning, 2001;Slinning, 2004); rather, there seemed to be an increase in problems up to 8 years of age (Nygaard, Moe, Slinning, & Walhovd, 2015). It is possible that the lack of findings in some studies may be because most studies have investigated much younger children than the present study.…”

The Unifying Effects of Maternal-Placental-Fetal Axis Dysregulation on Neurodevelopment Following Infectious and Toxic In Utero Insults

“…Notably, the incidence of preterm birth among opioiddependent mothers is nearly 3 times the national average for non-opioid-dependent mothers (137,138), suggestive of placental inflammation and instability. Infants exposed to opioids in utero have increased neuropsychological dysfunction, including impaired executive function and attention (134,(139)(140)(141)(142). While studies in adults indicate that opioids can induce structural CNS changes, with substantial changes in circuits related to pain and rewards, current knowledge of CNS changes in children with in utero opioid exposure is based on a few small studies (134,143,144).…”

Proceedings of the Iii International Scientific and Practical Conference “Psychological Health of the Person: Life Resource and Life Potential”

“…Therefore, the aim of this study is to detect the features of mental development of infants born by mothers who consumed drugs during their pregnancy (Tzur, Aslanov, Sheiner, & Levy, 2012;Pragst, Broecker, Hastedt, Herre, Andresen-Streichert, Sachs, & Tsokos, 2013;Nygaard, Moe, Slinning, & Walhovd, 2015;Neri, Bello, Turillazzi, & Riezzo, 2015;McGlone, & Mactier, 2015).…”