Prenatal stress and neurodevelopmental disorders: neuroanatomical and psychiatric outcomes
Gayrat Polvonov , Researcher, Department of Anatomy and Histology, Urgench Branch of Tashkent Medical Academy, Khorezm, Uzbekistan Nazarova Malokhat , PhD, Department of Pediatrics and Higher Nursing, Urgench Branch of Tashkent Medical Academy, Khorezm, Uzbekistan Dilorom Adilbekovа , Professor, Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, Tashkent Medical Academy, Tashkent, UzbekistanAbstract
Prenatal stress has been increasingly recognized as a significant factor influencing fetal brain development, leading to long-term neuroanatomical and psychiatric consequences. This literature review synthesizes current research on the impact of maternal stress during pregnancy on offspring neurodevelopment, focusing on structural brain abnormalities and associated psychiatric disorders. Evidence suggests that prenatal stress disrupts neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, increasing susceptibility to conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and mood disorders. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing early intervention strategies to mitigate adverse outcomes.
Keywords
Prenatal stress, neurodevelopmental disorders, fetal brain development
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