Previous research has shown that taking older epilepsy medications during pregnancy can impact the creative thinking of children. However, a new study published in the May 29, 2024, online issue of Neurology® found that there are no effects on creativity for children born to those taking newer epilepsy drugs.
Overall, the research discovered that there were no impacts on the creative abilities or executive function of the children. Executive function refers to a person’s capacity to plan, focus, and handle multiple tasks. However, when focusing on children with higher levels of these medications in their mother’s blood during the third trimester, the study found a link with lower performance in tests of the children’s executive function, but no impact on their creative abilities.
“Our results emphasize that even for epilepsy medications that are typically regarded as safe during pregnancy, dosage adjustments should be considered.”
The study author, Kimford Meador, MD, PhD, of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, stated that the study aimed to find the right balance between controlling seizures and minimizing negative effects on the developing child.
A total of 251 children of female participants with epilepsy and 73 children of female participants without epilepsy were involved in the study.
Among those with epilepsy, most were only on one epilepsy medication. Out of this group, 81 were taking lamotrigine and 68 were taking levetiracetam.
The children underwent evaluation at the age of four and a half with an assessment of cognitive and behavioral functions.Creative thinking was evaluated through a test in which participants were given a shape or figure and asked to complete or add their own illustrations. This test measured fluency, flexibility, and originality abilities. The study compared the creativity scores of children born to mothers with epilepsy and those born to mothers without the disease, after adjusting for the mothers’ IQ and education. The researchers found no significant differences in creativity scores between the two groups of children. Additionally, there were no discernible differences in creativity scores among the children of mothers with epilepsy that could be attributed to variations in levels of antiseizure medications found in the mothers’ blood samples during pregnancy.The study found that higher blood concentrations of epilepsy medications in the third trimester were linked to poorer performance on tests of executive skills. This association was particularly strong with exposure to levetiracetam. Lead researcher Meador emphasized the need for more studies to fully understand the impact of these medications on childhood development, especially in older children. One limitation of the study was that cognitive tests at age four and a half may not be as accurate in predicting creative development.The study found that children who were exposed to antiseizure medications in the womb may have decreased creative and executive function at 4.5 years old. The research also indicates that these children may experience more difficulty with problem-solving and critical thinking as they get older. The findings suggest that prenatal exposure to these medications could have long-term effects on cognitive development.
