Adults and Potential Modification by Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure

Overview

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Key numbers

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short-term memory and cognitive processing speed by 0.21 SD (95% CI: –0.04, 0.46) and 0.28 SD provided written, informed consent.
(95% CI: 0.02, 0.54), respectively. In the group with lower prenatal methylmercury exposure, a
studies have demonstrated a detrimental A Faroese birth cohort study (n = 1,022) was Material published in EHP articles may not conform to
of seconds of the last step. Maximal oxygen (Debes et al. 2006, 2016), we also consid- for physical activity (n = 1), smoking status
uptake (VO 2Max) in L/min was estimated ered predictors of neurocognitive outcomes: (n = 2), maternal and paternal employ-
using the formula: VO2Max (L/min) = 0.16 + maternal and paternal employment, maternal ment (n = 17), maternal education/training
(0.0117 × MPO), and then divided by weight and paternal education/training, and mother’s (n = 18), paternal education/training (n = 17),
and expressed in mL/kg/min. intelligence (Raven score). maternal Raven score (n = 21), and single
Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure final models using a combined approach. First, except for block designs (n = 48)). We imputed
ical cord blood samples collected at birth confounders. Second, plausible variables that number of iterations (n = 10) according to
(CB-Hg in μg/L). Briefly, blood samples changed the effect estimates by ≥ 10% were the proportion of missing information (White
from the umbilical cord were taken in 10-mL also retained. et al. 2011). Mean estimates and variances
(Gaithersburg, MD, USA) as previously regressions adjusting only for sex. Furthermore, (23.5 μg/L), whereas in the second analysis
to assess the relationship between VO2Max (35 μg/L) and ran the analysis across two
Neurocognitive Functions and groups of neurocognitive outcomes. In groups of low (< 35 μg/L; lower two tertiles)
A battery of neuropsychological tests was this approach, we considered test scores from and high (≥ 35 μg/L; highest tertile) prenatal
to test whether participants with better and 0.93 (Table 2). cognitive processing speed by 0.28 SD (95%
age 22 years (Debes et al. 2006), we consid- Final models included VO2Max, sex, physical scores by 0.21 SD (95% CI: –0.04, 0.46;
variable. Finally, we considered the three for cognitive processing speed (Table 3). We motor function for which the standardized
VO 2Max at age 22 years, adjusting for the Table 1. Levels of maximal oxygen uptake in relation to important covariates.
modeling” in the Supplemental Material. Low (< 23.5 μg/L) 99 (50) 34.7 ± 6.4
Table S1). Adjusting for sex, higher VO2Max Yes 152 (84) 35.3 ± 7.6
neurocognitive g score of 0.24 SD (95% CI: increased short-term memory and cogni- function (g), the associations were similar
–0.02, 0.50; z = 1.81, p = 0.07). In the final tive processing speed by 0.28 SD (95% CI: in the two groups of exposure, although
tions, aerobic fitness was significantly associ- (95% CI: 0.19, 0.74; z = 3.22, p = 0.001). lower exposure group (0.27 SD; 95% CI:
ated with cognitive efficiency. Here, a 1-SD No significant association was observed for –0.02, 0.55; z = 1.89, p = 0.06) (Table 5).
increase of 0.32 SD (95% CI: 0.01, 0.62; the group with higher prenatal methylmercury comparing results in the tertile groups of
general thinking abilities (Table 3). with a median cut-off, the associations differed efficiency and general thinking abilities. Thus,
In multiple group SEMs comparing the the other neurocognitive outcomes (Table 5). in VO2Max associated with increased cognitive
high (≥ 23.5 μg/L) prenatal methylmercury Table 2. Factor loadings and estimated correlation of measured test scores to the neurocognitive latent
by 0.45 SD (95% CI: 0.08, 0.81; z = 2.45, Spatial span forward 0.25 0.08 0.002 0.28
(Table 4). In the group with higher prenatal Boston Naming Test, correct with cues 0.86 0.03 < 0.001 0.79
functions (Table 4). Although the associa- Verbal analogies 0.32 0.05 < 0.001 0.67
group (0.27 SD: 95% CI: –0.05, 0.59; CVLT, long delay, recognition, correct 0.45 0.11 < 0.001 0.42
z = 1.65, p = 0.10) (Table 4). However, Incidental Memory 0.83 0.24 0.001 0.25
increases by 0.43 SD (95% CI: 0.07, 0.80; standard error.
tion was found in the group of higher prenatal Table 3. Adjusted associations between VO2Max and neurocognitive functions.
exposure (0.24 SD; 95% CI: –0.20, 0.68; Neurocognitive domain B (95% CI)a p-Value
and higher prenatal exposures (Table 4). Visual processing 0.07 (–0.24, 0.38) 0.64
of 35 μg/L (67% percentile), we observed Cognitive efficiency 0.32 (0.01, 0.62)** 0.04
mates were slightly attenuated (see Tables S3, domain-representation differs between tests, neuronal stem cells.
with VO2Max at age 22 years (standardized Table 4. Adjusted associations between VO2Max and neurocognitive functions in regard to prenatal

Methods (brief)

A subsample of 262 cohort members under-
Chan School of Public Health, Landmark Center 3E,
ical cord blood samples collected at birth confounders. Second, plausible variables that number of iterations (n = 10) according to
(CB-Hg in μg/L). Briefly, blood samples changed the effect estimates by ≥ 10% were the proportion of missing information (White
reference material samples from the National We explored associations between VO2Max ences in associations using two cut-offs. In the
campus (Tyler and Allan 2013). It also induced VO2Max in an American sample was 43.9 specific performances.

Implications

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Update history

The five most recent substantive edits to this page, classified major (evidence or structure moved), correction (a published value or statement was wrong and has been fixed), or minor (narrative rewritten without changing the underlying evidence). Each description is derived from what the edit did to this page; the linked commit is the authoritative record, routine regeneration passes are excluded, and the full version history lives in git. When DOI minting comes online (see schema docs), each entry below will also link to a version-pinned DataCite DOI.

Commit	Date	Change	Description
b01ec52c	2026-08-04	major	2 sections added
d49e450f	2026-08-03	major	5 sections added; narrative text revised