Developmental Impact of Prenatal Exposure to Methamphetamine and Early Adversity on Children

The rapidly escalating abuse of methamphetamine (METH) in the United States places a sense of urgency on understanding the consequences of METH use during pregnancy for the developing child. To our knowledge, our IDEAL (Infant Development Environment and Lifestyle) study is the only prospective longitudinal NIH study of prenatal METH exposure and child outcome.  204 exposed and 208 matched comparison children were recruited at birth from diverse populations in Iowa, Oklahoma, California and Hawaii where METH use is prevalent.  Children were evaluated at birth to age 7 years for infant neurobehavioral deficits (NNNS) and acoustic cry parameters, mother-infant attachment, cortisol reactivity, cognitive and motor development, behavior problems, school readiness and executive function.  Also measured were psychosocial risk factors (e. g, poverty, out of home placement, maternal psychiatric status, continued substance abuse in the home) to determine how the effects of prenatal METH exposure are affected for early adversity. There are over 30 publications from the IDEAL study. Primary Investigators: Barry Lester  PhD, Linda LaGasse PhD.                   

Epigenetics in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Methamphetamine 

Children with prenatal exposure to methamphetamine are at risk for poor developmental outcome due to the combination of the drug effects and environmental adversity.  In this 10-year follow up of a birth cohort from the Infant Development and Lifestyle Study (IDEAL), we are studying how prenatal methamphetamine exposure and environmental adversityresult in epigenetic changes that in turn affect cognitive and behavioral outcome. Primary Investigators: Barry Lester PhD, Linda LaGasse PhD.    

Maternal Lifestyle Study

The Maternal Lifestyle Study (MLS) is the largest of the NIH longitudinal studies of children with prenatal cocaine exposure.  MLS is a multi-site observational study of the long term effects of in-utero exposure to cocaine on child development.  The study included 25 data collection visits (birth to age 16 years) in the birth hospital, study clinic, home, and school. Neurobehavior evaluation (NNNS) and acoustic cry analysis were conducted at the 1-month visit.  Quality of attachment was conducted at 18 and 36 months. Heart rate recording occurred during child activity in the study clinic.  Cortisol reactivity during the stressful Trier Task and diurnal cortisol pattern both showed a blunted response in cocaine exposed children, suggesting chronic stress in these children’s lives.  Cocaine exposed children are likely to live in adverse circumstances that may increase the likelihood of behavior problems leading to poor executive function and school achievement, psychopathology, delinquency, early sex and drug use.  MLS has published over 75 publications. Primary Investigators: Barry Lester PhD, Linda LaGasse PhD. 

The MLS data set has been submitted for public access to the National Addiction and HIV Data Archive Program, Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (University of Michigan). The URL is http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR34312.v1

The Impact of Prenatal Methamphetamine Exposure on Children in New Zealand (NZ)

Does the impact of prenatal exposure to methamphetamine on children differ with cultural and resource differences?  The IDEAL (Infant Development Environment and Lifestyle) study in the US was replicated in NZ to compare whether differences between the societies may influence outcome in children with prenatal METH exposure.  Unlike the US, NZ has a harm reduction approach toward drug use, no mandatory reporting statutes for prenatal illicit drug use hence rare child removal, free universal health care and generous financial resources. Drug-using NZ mothers are far more likely to have prenatal care than US mothers and their infants were born  heavier and longer than US infants.  However, exposed infants in both US and NZ had a similar neurobehavioral pattern (NNNS) including under arousal, poorer quality of movement and increased stress and similar mild motor deficits from 1 to 3 years of age.  On the other hand, NZ mothers were 5 times more likely to have comorbidity between psychopathology and substance use disorder than US mothers. Ongoing analyses of academic achievement, social-emotional development and behavioral problems from 5 -7 years may be more sensitive to culture and resources as well as early adversity. Primary Investigators: Linda LaGasse PhD, Barry Lester, PhD.