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Smoking during pregnancy affects foetal brain development
Author(s) -
Ekblad Mikael,
Korkeila Jyrki,
Lehtonen Liisa
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.12791
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , brain development , brain function , fetus , brain structure and function , physiology , prenatal development , obstetrics , neuroscience , psychiatry , neuroimaging , genetics , biology
Environmental factors such as maternal smoking can significantly modulate genetically programmed brain development during foetal life. This review looks at how prenatal smoking exposure modulates brain development, including new evidence on the effects of smoking on foetal brain development and function. Conclusion Smoking during pregnancy exposes the foetus to thousands of health‐threatening chemicals, restricting foetal body and head growth. Alterations in brain structure and function have been seen in children exposed to prenatal smoking.