Early brain development in children born to depressed mothers in high and low income settings

Expectant mothers are 2-3 times more likely to experience depression in low-resource environments and their children are at enduring risk of developing mental health problems, however it is unknown whether, when and how early brain development contributes to this risk. Here, two early-career investigators from South Africa propose to combine data from six large cohorts with repeated child brain imaging assessments between O and 6 years of age, to carefully map trajectories of brain regional growth and brain network integration in children born to depressed mothers in high-income settings and in South Africa. This project will provide important insights into critical periods in brain development for early manifestations of mental health problems in exposed children, and this can help to guide preventative strategies in both high-income and low-income settings.