The number of women who reported using cannabis while they were pregnant doubled between 2002 and 2017. Emerging research has found that children who have had prenatal exposure are more likely to struggle with mental health issues in adolescence. Harvard Public Health spoke with David Baranger, a neuroscientist and postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, who contributed to a new study that suggests why.
Why study this topic?
Adolescents who were exposed to cannabis in utero demonstrate a higher prevalence of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These findings underscore the importance of understanding how prenatal exposures can influence mental health outcomes later in life.
What did you find?
The study suggests that prenatal exposure to cannabis could disrupt normal brain development. These disruptions can lead to alterations in brain architecture—in regions associated with emotional regulation, attention, and impulse control—that appear as behavioral and psychological challenges during adolescence. For instance, significant changes were observed in the prefrontal cortex, which is critical for managing decision-making.
What would you like to see happen based on the results?
There is an urgent need for increased awareness about the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy. Public health campaigns and health care provider education could play crucial roles in encouraging expectant mothers to abstain from cannabis.
—Skylar Rowley
(Study in Nature Mental Health, July 2024)
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