Brain Functionality Changes with Perinatal Anxiety Symptomatology

Saturday, October 26, 2024

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM EST

Location: Room 341

Presenting Author(s)

Maigh Attre

MD/PhD Graduate Student
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, United States

Co-Author(s)

SA

Suzanne Alvernaz, BS (she/her/hers)

MD/PhD Candidate
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, United States
EW

Elizabeth Wenzel

Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Chicago, United States
CC

Catherine Conway

Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Chicago, United States
OA

Olusola Ajilore

Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois Chicago, United States
Pauline Maki, Phd

Professor
Departments of Psychology, Psychiatry, and OB/GYN, College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, United States

Primary Investigator(s)

AL

Alex Leow

Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Psychiatry, University of Illinois Chicago, United States

Last Author(s)

Beatriz Penalver Bernabe, PhD;MS (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Medicine, Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Introduction: Perinatal anxiety (PNA) is estimated to be as prevalent as 13%. Studies outside of pregnancy indicate associations between anxiety and brain activity. However, longitudinal assessments of perinatal brain functionality are limited especially in the context of PNA. We aim to address this gap by investigating brain electrical activity differences associated with PNA using portable electroencephalography (pEEG) in the context of a diverse longitudinal perinatal cohort.

Materials and

Methods: Pregnant people (51% Black, 44% Hispanic ethnicity, 61% on Medicaid) completed two standardized mental health assessments, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and Computerized Adaptive Test–Anxiety (CAT-ANX), and a resting state EEG at five visits: < 16 gestational weeks (n=41), 20 gestational weeks (n=30), 24-28 gestational weeks (n=44), 36 gestational weeks (n=33) and 6 weeks post-partum (n=30). Relative power of alpha, beta, delta, theta, and gamma bands were determined. Linear regression and linear mixed effect models for temporal data were employed to identify the association between spectral power for each waveform and reported severity of anxiety symptoms. Models were corrected by participant age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and enrollment gestational age.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions: Self-reported anxiety symptoms were highest in the first trimester (GAD-7 = 4.8±4.7; CAT-ANX = 26.3±21.3) and showed trimester-specific relationships with relative power of frequency-band waveforms. First trimester and post-partum anxiety symptoms were negatively associated with delta power and positively associated with alpha power. Second trimester anxiety symptoms were positively associated with alpha power. Throughout gestation overall, anxiety symptoms are positively associated with alpha power and negatively associated with delta power.

This study is the first to assess PNA symptoms and EEG-measured brain activity from early pregnancy through post-partum. Alterations potentially reflect functional brain changes seen in generalized anxiety such as in sleep and emotion-processing, warranting further studies in the perinatal population.

Acknowledgements (Optional):