High blood pressure in a pregnant woman can affect the child's IQ level

A study by Finnish scientists published in the journal American Academy of Neurology Neurology found that high blood pressure in pregnant women can have a negative impact on the intellectual abilities and IQ scores of their children in adulthood.

High blood pressure and related conditions such as preeclampsia are common problems during pregnancy, affecting about 10% of all pregnancies. These conditions can disrupt the baby's environment in the womb, which can lead to various consequences.

Scientists believe that a decrease in thinking ability in adulthood may have its origin in the stage of intrauterine development, when most brain structures are formed and develop.

For the study, the researchers examined medical data on blood pressure during the pregnancies of 398 women who gave birth to boys between 1934 and 1944. These children's thinking abilities were measured in adulthood, first at age 20 and then at about 69. The tests examined language, numeracy, spatial and visual reasoning skills.

The researchers found that men whose mothers suffered from hypertension during pregnancy had an IQ score 4.36 points lower at age 69 compared with their peers who were not affected in the womb. A similar decline in thinking abilities was noted at age 20, and it was especially pronounced when solving mathematical problems.

Scientists also found that premature birth had no effect on intelligence, as did the type of activity of the child’s father, whether he was a simple worker or an office employee.

Thus, the study found that high blood pressure in pregnant women may have long-term effects on the intellectual abilities and IQ scores of their children in adulthood. Women planning a pregnancy should pay attention to their blood pressure readings and monitor them throughout their pregnancy to ensure the healthy development of the baby.