Multigenerational effects of parental prenatal exposure to famine on adult offspring cognitive function

Abstract

The effects of prenatal nutrition on adult cognitive function have been reported for one generation. However, human evidence for multigenerational effects is lacking. We examined whether prenatal exposure to the Chinese famine of 1959–61 affects adult cognitive function in two consecutive generations. In this retrospective family cohort study, we investigated 1062 families consisting of 2124 parents and 1215 offspring. We assessed parental and offspring cognitive performance by means of a comprehensive test battery. Generalized linear regression model analysis in the parental generation showed that prenatal exposure to famine was associated with a 8.1 (95% CI 5.8 to 10.4) second increase in trail making test part A, a 7.0 (1.5 to 12.5) second increase in trail making test part B, and a 5.5 (−7.3 to −3.7) score decrease in the Stroop color-word test in adulthood, after adjustment for potential confounders. In the offspring generation, linear mixed model analysis found no significant association between parental prenatal exposure to famine and offspring cognitive function in adulthood after adjustment for potential confounders. In conclusion, prenatal exposure to severe malnutrition is negatively associated with visual- motor skill, mental flexibility, and selective attention in adulthood. However, these associations are limited to only one generation.

Association between exposure to the Chinese famine during infancy and the risk of self-reported chronic lung diseases in adulthood: a cross-sectional study

“…However, several studies had found that these adaptive changes might permanently modify the structure and physiological function of the fetus. 3 4 The heavier lung disease burden in lower and middle income countries might be associated with a higher prevalence of low birth weight than in developed countries. Several studies had found that low birth weight was a strong factor for predicting a reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) and forced vital capacity(FVC).…”

Genomic imprinting and neurobehavioral programming by adverse early life environments: evidence from studying Cdkn1c

“…Dutch Hu ger Wi ter a d 19 9-1 Chi ese fa i es . These i clude reduced cog iti e abilities [3], as well as increased incidence of schizophrenia [4,5], personality disorder [5] and addiction and gambling problems [6]. These human studies are supported, and indeed have been extended, by a large number of animal studies that show clear associations between in utero and/or early post-natal exposure to stress, toxins, low protein and high fat diets, and abnormal brain and behavior in the offspring [1].…”

Transgenerational effects of maternal diet on metabolic and reproductive ageing

“…Adverse early-life environments are wide-ranging, and a diverse range of stimuli has been evaluated for potential to induce developmental programming phenotypes in offspring. In human populations, these have included exposure to famine (de Rooij et al 2015 ; Li et al 2015 ), natural disasters (Laplante et al 2008 ), traumatic life events (Khashan et al 2011 ) and maternal psychological stress (Entringer et al 2010 ) during pregnancy. In animal models, alteration of maternal diet (Ong and Ozanne 2015 ; Penfold and Ozanne 2015 ), experimentally induced hypoxia (Giussani and Davidge 2013 ) and micronutrient deficiencies (Mathias et al 2014 ) have been found to cause programming effects.…”

“…F2 outcomes reported in interviews with F1 study participants (Netherlands) Decreased birth length and increased ponderal index No effect on birthweight Increased incidence of poor health later in life Veenendaal et al ( 2013 ) F2 offspring of F1 parents who were in utero during the Dutch Hunger, compared to offspring whose parents were in utero before or after the famine. (Netherlands) Higher adult body weight (F1 father exposed only) Higher BMI (F1 father exposed only) Li et al ( 2015 ) F2 offspring of parents who were in utero during Chinese famine 1959–1962 (China) No effect on cognitive function in adulthood …”

“…Other human populations exist in which studies of the transgenerational impact of intrauterine under-nutrition have been undertaken, but as yet no studies of the metabolic or reproductive outcomes in offspring have been reported. These include famine exposure in China during 1959–1963, in which second-generation cognitive functioning was found to be unimpaired (Li et al 2015 ). A further example comes from the study of children whose grandmothers fasted for Ramadan during pregnancy (Alwasel et al 2013 ).…”