Is prenatal cannabis use linked to cognitive issues in children? Know more

Since cannabis has been legalized in multiple countries and is more accessible in various forms, the use of the same has been on the rise. Along with that, there is an increasing concern amongst health care providers about potential impact on children. Researchers at

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

have new findings to add to the existing evidence stating that

cannabis exposure

before birth can negatively impact children.
In a study published in

JAMA Paediatrics

, researchers found

prenatal cannabis

exposure was associated in early childhood with poorer thinking skills and behaviours such as impulse control, paying attention, planning ability, and more aggressive behaviour, all of which play a vital role in how children perform in school and interact with others.
As per the findings published in JAMA Paediatrics, in a cohort study of 316 722 pregnancies, prenatal

cannabis use

was associated with increased risk of

gestational hypertension

, preeclampsia, weight gain greater and less than guidelines, and placental abruption as well as reduced risk of gestational diabetes. No association was found with eclampsia, placenta previa, placenta accreta, or severe maternal morbidity.

What does that mean? The results of the said study suggest that the association between prenatal cannabis use and maternal health is complex and there is a need for continued research to understand how prenatal cannabis use affects the health of pregnant individuals.

What are the key points?

The key facts based on the findings of the studies are as follows:
Prenatal cannabis exposure affects impulse control, attention, and aggression.
Increased cannabis potency today may heighten risks compared to past decades.

Experts recommend safer alternatives for managing

pregnancy-related symptoms

.

Why is prenatal cannabis use harmful?

Elements of cannabis can pass through the placenta and affect the foetus’s development. Frequent cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight and is part of a cluster of risk factors related to other adverse birth outcomes. The most recent data also suggests an association between in utero exposure to cannabinoids and cognitive, behavioural, and neuropsychiatric aberrations. Most notably, emerging evidence suggests an association between prenatal cannabinoid exposure and deficits in memory, attention, and learning.