Study finds use of prenatal cannabis may affect behavior of children later
The use of cannabis during pregnancy can affect thinking and learning skills and lead to greater aggression in exposed children, according to a new study co-authored by a UC College of Nursing researcher.
The study looked at a cohort of 250 children and was recently published in JAMA Pediatrics.
“Children exposed to marijuana prenatally demonstrated worse executive functioning including: lower attention, inhibitory control and planning abilities compared to children not exposed to marijuana prenatally,” explains Aaron Murnan, PhD, assistant professor in the UC College of Nursing and a co-author of the study. “Children with exposure were also observed to be more aggressive compared to their peers.”
The study’s lead investigator and author is Sarah Kleim, PhD, at the Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
“Although cannabis is a natural product, there are still many risks to using it during pregnancy,” says Kleim. “Some women may turn to cannabis to help deal with some common issues of pregnancy including nausea, sleep problems and stress. This is not recommended. Consulting with a health care provider to find safer options to help with these issues during pregnancy is important.”
Aaron Murnan, PhD.
Murnan says this study has great methodological strengths. Its findings were reported by public radio’s WOSU in Columbus, Ohio and other media outlets.
“This is well-aligned with our previously published study among a younger cohort of children who were age 3,” explains Murnan, a researcher in the Department of Population Health in the UC College of Nursing. “In that study, children exposed to marijuana prenatally had more sleep-related problems and externalizing problem behaviors (including aggression) compared to children without prenatal exposure.”
Murnan says more work is needed to fully understand the extent of how prenatal marijuana exposure impacts children’s developmental and behavioral trajectories. However, this study contributes to a growing and substantial amount of evidence for risks associated with marijuana use during pregnancy, he adds.
“The findings align with existing recommendations cautioning pregnant people to discontinue marijuana use during pregnancy,” says Murnan. “This can be a challenging adjustment. Providers and family members alike should seek to be empathetic and supportive in helping those who are pregnant trying to reduce or discontinue their marijuana use.
“If we think about lower executive functioning and increased aggressive behaviors at age 5 (and 3 in our prior paper), these can potentially jeopardize or interfere with children’s performance and early success within educational environments, which may impede their long-term educational trajectories,” says Murnan.
Learn more about Aaron Murnan's research online.
The study was reported in several media outlets.
Featured top image of cannabis image courtesy of Istock.
Latest UC News
- UC’s Venture Lab partners with Flywheel for SustainableCincy cohortThe University of Cincinnati’s Venture Lab collaborated with Flywheel’s startup accelerator to support social entrepreneurs through its SustainableCincy program.
- Keep warm, CincinnatiAs the winter chill sets in, Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, is offering an extra layer of warmth for those who step up to save lives this Dec. 1-31. Those who donate blood or platelets will receive a FREE winter puffy jacket — perfect for the colder months or as a thoughtful gift for someone in need. Schedule a donation today at hoxworth.org.
- The surprising strategies animals use to survive winterNational Geographic turns to UC biologist George Uetz to learn how spiders and insects survive the long winter.
- CCM winter apparel available for purchase onlineShow your school spirit this spring with official CCM apparel! New UC College-Conservatory of Music apparel is available for purchase online. CCM's latest quarter zip and crewneck sweatshirt designs can be ordered online now through Dec. 8, 2024. You can preview both items below.
- Tennessee woman travels to UC for lifesaving careWLWT highlighted East Tennessee woman Trisha Wilhoit who traveled to the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center for treatment for her Stage 4 colon cancer and received a liver donation from her sister Camille Berkley.
- Sustaining the medical imaging professionThe University of Cincinnati's advanced medical imaging technology program is addressing the nationwide shortage of nuclear medicine and MRI technologists through innovative education, clinical partnerships and hands-on training opportunities.
