Lead Exposure During Pregnancy and Early Childhood Linked to Faster Memory Loss: Study

Memory problems could eventually interfere with the individual’s learning and development processes.

The findings of a new study add to growing concerns over the long-term side effects of lead exposure during pregnancy and early childhood, suggesting even low levels may cause lasting harm to children’s cognitive development.

According to a report published in the journal Science Advances on July 9, researchers found that children exposed to lead in utero or during early childhood were more likely to experience memory decline compared to peers with no exposure.

Strong memory and attention skills are critical for academic success, particularly during early school years when long-term learning builds on retained knowledge. Researchers say the findings raise alarms about how early-life lead exposure may affect educational outcomes.

While prior studies have already linked lead exposure to learning disabilities and developmental delays, the new research highlights specific concerns about memory loss and long-term cognitive performance.

For this latest study, researchers from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York evaluated underlying neurobehavioral functions like attention and working memory in children by using cognitive tasks.

The team, led by Dr. Katherine Svensson, used the model to predict memory loss rates among children exposed to lead during pregnancy and early childhood.

Blood lead was measured during pregnancy in the second and third trimesters, and again at 4 to 6 years of age. Then children were shown a picture and had to select the same picture from three choices after a short delay.

Researchers found that a higher level of exposure to lead during childhood was linked with a faster rate of memory loss among children. According to the data, even at low exposure levels of average blood lead levels of approximately 1.7 µg/dL, children had worse memory than unexposed children.

Overall, exposure to lead during pregnancy and early childhood can accelerate the rate children forget information, the researchers concluded. This level of memory impairment is a marker for further problems with learning and development, they warned.

Older children, or children born to mothers with a higher IQ were more likely to show better memory retention.

While more research is needed to use this method to connect lead exposure to other aspects of cognitive function, like attention and reward processing, researchers said the study shows an urgent need for continued lead intervention and prevention efforts, especially among low-income communities.

Childhood Lead Exposure Risks

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), there is no safe lead exposure level for children. Any exposure can increase the risk of developing injuries to the nervous system and brain. It can also cause seizures, convulsions, mental retardation, delayed growth, obesity, coma and even death.

It is believed that exposure leads to changes to the brain’s structural integrity, which can result in cognitive problems and reduced IQ scores later in life. Children can experience long-term brain damage even at low levels of lead exposure.

Just last month, research published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated exposure to higher levels of lead decreases a child’s academic performance. Children with more lead exposure score lower on math and reading tests from second grade through their junior year of high school.

While childhood lead poisoning is often linked to old paint in aging homes, recent attention has shifted to the widespread presence of lead and other heavy metals in popular baby food products.

Several major recalls have been issued in recent years due to lead contamination, triggering a wave of toxic baby food lawsuits against Gerber, Beech-Nut and other manufacturers. The lawsuits allege that these companies failed to properly test their products or warn parents about the risks, leading to children developing autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

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