The research, conducted as a cohort study, involved children aged nine to 10 years at the first wave (October 2016 to October 2018) and 11 to 12 years at the second wave (August 2018 to January 2021) within the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study spanning 21 U.S. sites. Among the 11,448 children in the first wave, 1,607 were exposed to MTDP.
Comparing children with and without MTDP, the study revealed significant differences in various cognitive domains. Those exposed to MTDP exhibited lower scores on tests measuring oral reading recognition, picture sequence memory, picture vocabulary, and overall crystallized cognition at the first wave.
These differences persisted into the second wave. Children with MTDP showed smaller cortical areas in regions such as the precentral, inferior parietal, and entorhinal areas based on structural magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, they displayed lower cortical volumes in several brain regions, including the precentral, inferior parietal, entorhinal, and parahippocampal areas.
Distinct patterns of cortical volume were observed in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes in the second wave, emphasizing the enduring impact of MTDP on brain development. However, no significant differences were noted in the occipital lobe and insula cortex.
The study's findings underscore the detrimental effects of MTDP on language processing skills and episodic memory in children. The authors stress the importance of intervention strategies that enhance prenatal and perinatal health services and implement effective tobacco control policies to mitigate these adverse outcomes.
In summary, maternal tobacco use during pregnancy has significant implications for the neurocognitive development of offspring, highlighting the urgency for comprehensive public health measures to support maternal and child well-being.