Prenatal Cannabis Exposure May Impact Executive Function, Behavior at Age 5 Years
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2024 -- Children with prenatal cannabis exposure exhibit some differences in aspects of executive function and behavior, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Sarah A. Keim, Ph.D., from The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and colleagues prospectively examined the association of prenatal cannabis exposure with executive function and aggressive behavior at age 5 years in a cohort study conducted from 2016 through 2020. A total of 355 participants were enrolled in a pregnancy research repository and were invited to participate again when the child was 5 years of age.
The researchers found that 80 of 250 children (32 percent) were exposed to cannabis. Use of tobacco, other drugs, and alcohol during pregnancy occurred in 22 to 39 percent of participants. Most of the included families were living in poverty. Following propensity score weighting and adjustment for confounders, age-corrected standard scores for children's attention and inhibitory control were about 0.4 standard deviations lower for those exposed to cannabis versus those unexposed. Poorer task-based planning ability and more observed aggression was also exhibited by exposed children. No differences were seen by exposure status for caregiver ratings of executive function and behavior and laboratory assessments of other aspects of executive functioning.
"The present findings may inform counseling by clinicians to avoid cannabis use during pregnancy, particularly given its recent increase," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2024
Read this next
Mental Health, Neurodevelopmental Diagnoses in Publicly Insured Children on the Rise
WEDNESDAY, April 30, 2025 -- The percentage of publicly insured children receiving any mental health or neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosis significantly increased between 2010...
Risky Health Behaviors Tied to Poorer Mental Well-Being, General Health in Midlife
MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- Risky health behaviors, both current and cumulatively over time, are associated with poorer mental well-being and self-reported health, according to a...
Burnout Still High for Veterans Health Administration Health Care Workers
MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- Burnout remains above prepandemic levels for health care workers at the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA), according to a study published online...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.