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Long‐Term Neurodevelopmental Risks in Children Exposed in Utero to Cocaine: The Toronto Adoption Study a
Author(s) -
KOREN GIDEON,
NULMAN IRENA,
ROVET JOANNE,
GREENBAUM RACHEL,
LOEBSTEIN MICHAL,
EINARSON TOM
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb09747.x
Subject(s) - in utero , addiction , medicine , socioeconomic status , prenatal cocaine exposure , neurotoxicity , pediatrics , psychology , pregnancy , psychiatry , environmental health , prenatal exposure , gestation , toxicity , fetus , population , biology , genetics
Children exposed in utero to cocaine are at risk for long‐term neurobehavioral damage not just because of the drug itself, but also because of clustering of other health determinants, including low socioeconomic status, low maternal education, and maternal addiction, to mention a few. One methodologic approach to separate the direct neurotoxic effects of cocaine from these synergistic insults is to follow up a cohort of children exposed in utero to cocaine and given up for adoption to middle‐upper class families. The Toronto Adoption Study, supported by Health Canada, has proven the direct neurotoxic effects of cocaine on IQ and language. These effects are mild to moderate as compared to those measured in children exposed in utero to cocaine and reared by their natural mothers.