Study by Pembroke Fellow Reveals Effects of Early Disruptions in Fetal Brain Growth on Child Development

A major international study led by Pembroke Computer Science Fellow Professor Ana Namburete, alongside other researchers at the University of Oxford and in collaboration with the University of Leeds, has identified how early disruptions in fetal brain growth are linked to poorer child development outcomes and uncovered the biological mechanisms underlying these effects.

The study, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health, followed nearly 3,600 pregnancies from early gestation through to each child's second birthday. Researchers found that specific patterns of fetal brain growth, emerging before 20–25 weeks’ gestation, are strongly associated with differences in growth, vision, and neurodevelopment at age two. They then discovered that early maternal disruption of fats required for normal brain growth in the fetus relate to reduced gene activation required to produce these fats in the newborn.

You can read the study here. 

Key Findings

Fetuses whose brain growth started slowing down early in pregnancy (early faltering growth or EFG) had the poorest outcomes, including lower cognitive, motor, language, and vision scores at age two. EFG was associated with reduced blood supply to the placenta, indicating impaired oxygen and nutrient delivery during pregnancy.

Distinct maternal metabolic signatures in early pregnancy (<16 weeks) were identified, including a change in types of fat within the blood linked to adverse fetal growth patterns. Evidence for altered epigenetic regulation of the biological mechanisms required to make these neurologically related fats was observed in cord blood.

Genetic factors only displayed a limited association with slower brain growth of the fetus, indicating that environmental and metabolic influences affecting the interaction between the mother and the baby and related to switching genes on and off during pregnancy are key drivers.

“By integrating clinical, placental, metabolic, and epigenetic data, we have identified biological pathways that could help explain why some children experience poorer developmental outcomes,” said Professor José Villar, University of Oxford.

Understanding early fetal brain development

Fetal brain growth is a critical determinant of lifelong health. This study is the first to combine detailed fetal imaging with molecular analyses across pregnancy and early childhood and relating these to child neurological development at age 2.

The findings show that early alterations in placental function and fetal metabolism are central to impaired brain development.

The findings highlight the potential for early identification of at-risk pregnancies, possibly as early as the first trimester, using maternal biomarkers. Such advances could enable targeted interventions during a critical window of fetal development.

The research for this study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.