Posted: October 31st, 2023

Relationship between gestational infections and obesity with intellectual disability

# Relationship between gestational infections and obesity with intellectual disability

Intellectual disability (ID) is a condition characterized by significant limitations in cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior, affecting about 1% of the global population. ID can have various causes, such as genetic, environmental, or developmental factors. In this blog post, we will focus on the relationship between gestational infections and obesity with ID, and how these factors may interact to increase the risk of ID in children.

## Gestational infections and ID

Gestational infections are infections that occur during pregnancy and may affect the mother, the fetus, or both. Some examples of gestational infections are urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), influenza, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, and rubella. Gestational infections can have adverse effects on fetal development, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Several studies have investigated the association between gestational infections and ID in children. A systematic review by O’Donovan et al. (2022) found that maternal infection during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of ID in children, especially if the infection occurred in the first or second trimester. The review also found that the type of infection did not seem to matter, as both general infections (GIs) and STIs were linked to ID.

A retrospective cohort study by McCarter (2020) explored whether maternal body mass index (BMI) modified the relationship between gestational infections and ID. The study used Medicaid administrative data from South Carolina and included 124,047 mother-child pairs. The study found that underweight and obese mothers who experienced both a GI and an STI during pregnancy had the highest odds of having a child with ID, compared to mothers of the same weight category with no infection. The study also found that underweight mothers who experienced both GI and STI during pregnancy had higher odds of having a child with ID compared to underweight mothers who had either STI or GI only.

These findings suggest that gestational infections may have a direct or indirect effect on fetal brain development, leading to impaired cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior in children. Moreover, these findings indicate that maternal BMI may interact with gestational infections to influence the risk of ID in children.

## Obesity and ID

Obesity is a condition characterized by excess body fat that may impair health. Obesity can be measured by BMI, which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal, while a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.

Obesity can have negative consequences for both maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. For example, obesity can increase the risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, and stillbirth. Obesity can also affect fetal growth, resulting in macrosomia (large for gestational age) or intrauterine growth restriction (small for gestational age).

Several studies have examined the association between maternal obesity and ID in children. A systematic review by Kral et al. (2019) found that maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and excessive gestational weight gain were associated with increased risks of fetal pregnancy complications and adverse childhood cardio-metabolic, respiratory, and cognitive-related health outcomes. The review also found that maternal obesity was associated with an increased risk of ID in children, especially if the obesity was severe or occurred early in pregnancy.

A prospective cohort study by Rodriguez et al. (2008) followed 1,311 mother-child pairs from birth to 7 years of age in Spain. The study measured maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and assessed child cognitive development using standardized tests at 4 and 7 years of age. The study found that maternal pre-pregnancy obesity was associated with lower scores on verbal comprehension, perceptual organization, freedom from distractibility, and full-scale IQ at 4 years of age. Need help writing my assignment The study also found that maternal pre-pregnancy obesity was associated with lower scores on verbal comprehension and full-scale IQ at 7 years of age.

These findings suggest that maternal obesity may have a detrimental effect on fetal brain development, leading to reduced cognitive abilities and adaptive behavior in children. Moreover, these findings indicate that maternal obesity may have a long-term impact on child cognitive development.

## Conclusion

In conclusion, gestational infections and obesity are two factors that may increase the risk of ID in children. These factors may have direct or indirect effects on fetal brain development, resulting in impaired cognitive functioning and adaptive behavior in children. Furthermore, these factors may interact with each other or with other factors to influence the risk of ID in children.

Therefore, it is important to prevent and treat gestational infections and obesity during pregnancy, as well as to monitor and support child cognitive development. This may help to reduce the burden of ID and improve the quality of life of children and their families.

## References

– McCarter, M. S. (2020). Gestational Infections and Obesity: Implications for Intellectual Disability Risk. (Master’s thesis). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/4711
– O’Donovan, M., O’Leary, N., O’Sullivan, M., & Gallagher, L. (2022). A systematic review of the biological, social, and environmental determinants of intellectual disability in children and adolescents. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 926681. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.926681
– Kral, J. G., Biron, S., Simard, S., Hould, F.-S., Lebel, S., Marceau, S., & Marceau, P. (2009). Large maternal weight loss from obesity surgery prevents transmission of obesity to children who were followed for 2 to 18 years. Pediatrics, 124(6), e803–e808. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-2815
– Rodriguez, A., Miettunen, J., Henriksen, T. B., Olsen, J., Obel, C., Taanila, A., Ebeling, H., Linnet, K. M., Moilanen, I., & Järvelin, M.-R. (2008). Maternal adiposity prior to pregnancy is associated with ADHD symptoms in offspring: evidence from three prospective pregnancy cohorts. International Journal of Obesity (2005), 32(3), 550–557. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803741