Home
Funding Areas
About Us
A new study suggests that babies born to moms who were stressed during the 2009 Covid-19 pandemic may have smaller brains.
Reporting in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers at the Center for Prenatal, Neonatal & Maternal Health Research at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC, say the left amygdala, a part of the brain linked to emotions, was significantly smaller in babies born to moms who reported stress during the pandemic.
The right hippocampus, which governs spatial, visual, and verbal memories, and the white matter were also reduced in children born to moms who reported stress.
"Looking ahead, we want to use this informationand studies with similar findingsto empower pregnant mothers to request support to mitigate their stress, especially in the event of another global health crisis," says neonatologist Nickie Andescavage, who led the study.
The researchers compared the brains of 103 babies born between 2014 and 2019 to 59 born between 2020 and 2022.
The mothers were evaluated for stress and anxiety using the Spielberger State-Train Anxiety Inventory and other evidence-based scoring measures.
In pre-pandemic babies, 21% reported elevated symptoms of anxiety; in the pandemic cohort, that number jumped to nearly 62%.
"Given the global impact of the pandemic and universal reports
Selected Grant News Headlines
A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.
Foundation: de Beaumont Foundation
Shah is recognized for his editorial leadership, holding roles as Editor or Associate Editor for several prominent public health journals.His research has been supported by major federal grants,...more
Harmony School celebrates 50 years of educational innovation and community impact."Our 50th anniversary is a celebration not just of Harmony's history, but of the values we champion," said Harmony...more
Foundation: de Beaumont Foundation
In 2021, Jessica was named one of the "World's 50 Greatest Leaders" by Fortune Magazine for her work on COVID-19 research and data communication.Jessica is a Research Fellow at Boston Children's...more
GlobeKin Offers Real-World Learning Experiences for Children.Its focus on blending digital learning with real-world experiences makes it a valuable resource for parents and educators seeking to...more
A&J Produce Corp., Bronx, NY, partners with Hunts Point Alliance for Children by providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need.The year-round programs aim to broaden children's...more
Nemours Children's will be incentivized to address both medical and non-medical drivers of children's health.Delaware Governor John Carney: "Making sure our children are healthy and able to be...more
Kid's Innovation Playground to receive $81,000 from the Neighborhood Assistance Program.Program will add 24 additional classes and increase Tech Tinkering drop-in program by three hours per week to...more
Study reveals worrying insights about the online habits of Greek children aged 9-12.Nearly 60% use social media daily, and more than 76% navigate the internet using their own devices.One in eight...more
Foundations Awards Nearly $170K In Grants To Bucks County Nonprofits.The grants support capital projects and recognize innovative programs to improve the lives of children, young adults, and...more
KU professor says we need an education system that lets students have more control over their learning.To help students thrive in the age of artificial intelligence, schools must shift their...more
Children News from...
de Beaumont Foundation
Google.org
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
3 Lessons Gained from a Russian Social Enterprise
Social enterprises in Russia are bridging a gap between the state and the third sector.
