Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain

Mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain

Abstract Our aim is to evaluate the effect of a structured stress reduction intervention based on mindfulness during pregnancy on the maternal brain. We report a secondary analysis of IMPACT BCN, a randomized clinical trial including pregnant women randomly allocated to 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stre...

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Main Authors: Yvan Gomez, Ayako Nakaki, Allegra Conti, Sara Castro-Barquero, Benedetta Gambosi, Irene Casas, Mariona Genero, Lina Youssef, Leticia Benitez, Noelia Encabo, Rosa Casas, Andrés Martín-Asuero, Teresa Oller-Guzmán, Ivette Morilla, Anabel Martínez-Àran, Nuria Bargallo, Nicola Toschi, Ramon Estruch, Eduard Vieta, Fàtima Crispi, Eduard Gratacos, Francesca Crovetto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Pregnancy
Brain
MRI
Small-for-gestational age
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07787-9
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Summary:Abstract Our aim is to evaluate the effect of a structured stress reduction intervention based on mindfulness during pregnancy on the maternal brain. We report a secondary analysis of IMPACT BCN, a randomized clinical trial including pregnant women randomly allocated to 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (n = 41) or usual care (without any intervention, n = 35). Maternal magnetic resonance (MR) was performed in the third trimester, cluster-wise analysis was used to assess cortical morphometric differences, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to evaluate the metabolic characteristics. Mindfulness status was evaluated using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Results showed that participants from Stress reduction group had significantly larger surface areas in the right superior frontal region as compared to the Usual care group (90%CI: 0.023–0.029, p = 0.03). The1H-MRS revealed that Stress reduction group participants, had higher concentrations of myo-inositol (adjusted mean difference D 0.37 mol/L, 95%CI 0.05–0.69) as compared to Usual care. Participants who had high mindfulness on FFMQ facets of non-judgmental (D 358.5 mm2, 95%CI 53.5-663.6) and non-reactivity (D 362.3 mm2, 95%CI 18.8-705.7) had larger right superior frontal area. In conclusion, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program during pregnancy has a significant effect on maternal brain structure and is associated with metabolite concentration changes.
ISSN:2045-2322

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