Summary: New research shows that cannabis use during pregnancy is linked to measurable molecular changes in children’s genes that are important for brain development. The study found significant DNA methylation differences at genes involved in neurodevelopment, providing evidence of a biological connection between prenatal cannabis exposure and later developmental outcomes.
These findings are particularly important because cannabis use among pregnant people has increased, often to relieve pregnancy-related symptoms such as nausea or anxiety. The study underlines the need for clearer guidance about the potential long-term risks to children exposed to cannabis in utero.
Key Facts:
- Cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with molecular changes in genes tied to brain development.
- These DNA methylation changes affect genes linked to neurodevelopmental processes and disorders.
- Rising cannabis use in pregnancy raises concerns about potential effects on child health and development.
Source: University of Canterbury
New study links prenatal cannabis exposure to lasting changes in children’s neurodevelopment-related genes
Led by Dr. Amy Osborne, Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, this study is the first to report consistent molecular alterations in children exposed to cannabis before birth.
“Previous epidemiological studies have associated prenatal cannabis exposure with differences in childhood and adolescent brain development and cognitive function,” Dr. Osborne explains. “But until now, a direct molecular link had not been clearly demonstrated.”
The research appears in the journal Molecular Psychiatry and represents a collaboration between the University of Canterbury and the University of Oxford. It uses genomic and epigenetic data from two long-term cohort studies: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in the UK and the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS) in New Zealand.
By examining DNA methylation across multiple time points—at birth, childhood, adolescence and into adulthood—the team identified genome-wide significant differences in offspring whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy.
“Analyzing samples taken at birth, age 7, ages 15–17, and around 27 years, we detected a molecular signature associated with prenatal cannabis exposure,” Dr. Osborne says. “For the first time, we found a significant number of altered DNA methylation sites in genes involved in neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental disease that persist across the life course.”
Among the genes showing differential methylation were LZTS2, NPSR1, NT5E, CRIP2, DOCK8, COQ5, and LRP5—genes that play roles in neural development, neurotransmission and neuronal structure. Functional pathway analysis confirmed that affected sites cluster in pathways related to neurodevelopment, synaptic function and neuronal architecture, and these patterns were consistent across cohorts and time points.
Dr. Osborne emphasizes that the results strengthen the evidence suggesting a causal link between prenatal cannabis exposure and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. “Given global trends in cannabis availability and rising use during pregnancy—especially since the COVID-19 pandemic—these findings are a timely public health concern,” she says.
The researchers note that many pregnant people use cannabis or cannabis-containing products to manage symptoms such as nausea and anxiety. With legal changes and greater product availability in some countries, usage during pregnancy may continue to grow. The study’s authors call for larger investigations and clearer clinical guidance to help expectant parents make informed decisions and to reduce potential risks to children.
About this CUD, genetics and neurodevelopment research news
Author: Amy Osborne
Source: University of Canterbury
Contact: Amy Osborne – University of Canterbury
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with alterations in offspring DNA methylation at genes involved in neurodevelopment, across the life course” by Amy Osborne et al., Molecular Psychiatry
Abstract
Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with alterations in offspring DNA methylation at genes involved in neurodevelopment, across the life course
Prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) is an increasing global concern because of its potential to affect offspring brain development and cognitive outcomes. Although epidemiological studies have linked PCE to altered neurodevelopment in children and adolescents, the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations have been unclear.
To fill this gap, the authors conducted epigenome-wide association analyses across multiple developmental stages using data from ALSPAC and CHDS. Samples were assessed at birth (0 years), 7 years, 15–17 years (ALSPAC), and around 27 years (CHDS). The analysis considered both PCE alone and co-exposure with tobacco.
The study found genome-wide significant DNA methylation differences associated with PCE at all examined ages. Several differentially methylated CpG sites were consistently identified across time points within genes linked to neurodevelopment (including LZTS2, NPSR1, NT5E, CRIP2, DOCK8, COQ5, and LRP5). Pathway analysis revealed enrichment in neurodevelopmental processes, neurotransmission, and neuronal structural pathways, with consistent patterns across cohorts and ages.
Given accumulating epidemiological evidence connecting PCE with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, these molecular findings highlight the need for further research in larger cohorts and for improved public health messaging regarding cannabis use during pregnancy.