59 - Altered newborn amygdala volumetric growth with elevated prenatal maternal anxiety is associated with infant communication and socialization

Poster Number: 59
Publication Number: 59.202

Yao Wu, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States; Kushal Kapse, Developing Brain Institute, Washington, DC, United States; Anushree Kapse, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Catherine Lopez, Children's National Health System, Washington, D.C., DC, United States; Jessica Quistorff, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Nicole Andersen, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Todd C. Richmann, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States; Catherine Limperopoulos, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States

Background: The amygdala plays a central role in response to stress. Prenatal maternal psychological distress has been associated with altered amygdala volumes in school-aged children. However, postnatal amygdala growth in newborns exposed to prenatal maternal stress and its association with infant neurodevelopment remains unknown.

Objective: This study aims to determine the association between prenatal maternal psychological distress (i.e., stress, anxiety, and depression) and neonatal amygdala volume as well as the association between neonatal amygdala volume and infant 18-month neurodevelopment.

Design/Methods: We prospectively recruited women with healthy (low-risk) pregnancies. Prenatal maternal anxiety, stress, and depression were measured using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, respectively. Neonates were scanned on a 3T MRI scanner with an 8-channel HiRes brain array receive only coil (T2-weighted 3D CUBE sequence; TR/TE: 2500/64.7 ms; flip angle: 90°; resolution: 0.625×0.625×1 mm3). Left and right amygdala in MRI images were automatically segmented using Draw-EM software and then manually corrected. Infant neurodevelopment at 18 months was evaluated using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales which assesses adaptive behavior in communication, daily living, socialization, motor skills.

Results: We studied 142 pregnant women, of which 106 completed distress measures twice during pregnancy (31.7±4.5, 23-40 gestational weeks); 109 newborns underwent postnatal MRI (41.9±2.0, 38.1-48.1 gestational weeks); and 103 infants completed neurodevelopmental testing at 18 months. Prenatal maternal anxiety was associated with smaller left and right amygdala volumes in newborns. Impaired newborn right amygdala volume was associated with decreased communication and socialization scores at 18 months. Additionally, impaired newborn left and right amygdala volumes were associated with decreased adaptive behavior composite scores.Conclusion(s): We report that prenatal maternal anxiety is associated with impaired amygdala volume in newborns. We also report that impaired right amygdala volume is associated with decreased communication and socialization skills at 18 months. Our data suggest that altered newborn amygdala growth in the setting of elevated prenatal maternal anxiety adversely affects infant adaptive outcomes.