cognitive development - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Folic Acid Supplementation: When to Start? How Long to Continue?

Folic acid supplementation before and during early pregnancy substantially reduces the risk of neural tube defects. Emerging research suggests that folic acid may have beneficial effects on neurodevelopment that extend beyond the first trimester. We review the evidence on the timing of folic acid supplementation and findings from the FASSTT randomized controlled trial, which examined whether supplementation during the second and third trimesters was associated with improved cognitive outcomes in children.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2026-09-15T10:47:35-04:00September 16th, 2026|Child Outcomes, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Does Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Affect Executive Function in Preschool-Aged Children?

Prenatal cannabis exposure was associated with deficits in executive function and aggressive behavior; however, there are other important exposures to consider in this study.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T08:05:58-04:00October 30th, 2024|Women's Mental Health|Comments Off

Largest Study Ever Shows No Increase in Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Kids Exposed to Antidepressants In Utero

Analyzing data from nearly 150,000 children with prenatal antidepressant exposure in two healthcare databases, a recent study finds no association between prenatal exposure to antidepressants and risk for neurodevelopmental disorders.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2022-12-26T13:38:45-04:00October 12th, 2022|Antidepressants, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Pregnancy & Medications, Prevalence & Risk Factors|Comments Off

Essential Reads: Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Antidepressants

While questions and controversies remain, the information on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children prenatally exposed to antidepressants is largely reassuring.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2022-03-10T09:41:00-04:00February 3rd, 2022|Antidepressants, Essential Reads, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Taking a Closer Look at Motor Development in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Antidepressants

While we have data to support the use of antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), during pregnancy, most studies have focused on risk of congenital [...]

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2024-03-25T08:31:46-04:00January 19th, 2021|Antidepressants, Child Outcomes, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Kindergartners with Prenatal Exposure to Antidepressants

While we have data to support the use of antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), during pregnancy, most studies have focused on risk of congenital [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-06-18T14:55:08-04:00June 2nd, 2020|Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Postpartum Depression and Its Effects on Children’s IQ

The research of Lynne Murray and Peter Cooper in the 1990s was pivotal in terms of demonstrating the negative effects of postpartum depression on the cognitive development of young children and played an important role [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2017-02-06T17:04:15-04:00November 8th, 2016|Depressive Disorders, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|Comments Off

Prenatal SSRI Exposure and Speech/Language Disorders: Many Headlines, Little Risk

Last week, an article looking at the cognitive and motor development of children with prenatal exposure to antidepressants was published in JAMA Psychiatry. Since that time, we have received a lot of questions regarding the [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-11-26T08:31:57-04:00October 21st, 2016|Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Preliminary Study: Folic Acid Reduces Risk for Autism in Kids Prenatally Exposed to Antiepileptic Drugs

Several studies have observed that fetal exposure to the antiepileptic drug (AED), valproic acid (Depakote), may significantly increase the risk of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder. In contrast, exposures to other AEDs, [...]

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:07:59-04:00August 10th, 2016|Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

In Brief: Higher Thyroid Function During Pregnancy May Negatively Affect Brain Development

It is well established that during pregnancy maternal hypothyroidism may have negative effects on the developing fetal brain. New data presented at the 2015 International Thyroid Congress and Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-10-26T14:07:18-04:00October 26th, 2015|Outcomes, Pregnancy Outcomes, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off