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Heat Waves Harm Fetal Brains, Study Warns
16 Jul
Summary
- Higher temperatures during pregnancy linked to brain changes in infants.
- Thalamus development is particularly vulnerable to heat exposure.
- Fetal heat exposure may increase risk for behavioral issues later.
Higher temperatures during pregnancy may negatively impact children's brain development, according to a recent study involving over 3,200 Dutch children. Researchers found that exposure to heat from conception through infancy was associated with altered development in the brain's thalamus.
The thalamus, crucial for processing information and regulating consciousness, develops early and relies on a strong blood supply, making it susceptible to heat. Fetal and infant exposure to average monthly temperatures around 69°F was linked to slower thalamic growth compared to cooler exposures.
This slowed growth between ages 9 and 15 has been previously associated with behavioral issues like aggression. The study's findings, published in Environment International, underscore the potential risks of global warming to neurodevelopment.
Scientists theorize that heat may increase maternal stress hormones and affect neurotransmitter activity, impacting fetal brain connections. They emphasize that reducing heat exposure during pregnancy and infancy could be vital for protecting children's developing brains.
