Talk Title: A Trifecta of Influence: the developmental effects of environmental complexity on body, brain, and behaviour

Dr. Anne TM Konkle is an Assistant Professor in the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa since 2009. Her research focus is on better understanding the mother/infant dyad. Her work serves to characterize the impact of in utero/pregnancy and neonatal/ postpartum exposure to environmental perturbations (including stress, maternal infection, toxicants, noise, etc) on development of the brain in the offspring but also on plasticity of the maternal brain and related maternal behaviours. Given that offspring brain development and behaviour are uniquely tied in with maternal care – better understanding the plasticity of the maternal brain and how environmental factors may affect this plasticity is key to understanding interactions between direct and indirect environmental effects on offspring brain development. A multidisciplinary approach finds her investigating the social media representation of peripartum mental health in order to better understand the information typically available to the lay person and how this might impact their perceptions and behaviours; her ultimate goal being awareness and advocacy for mental health, toward a de-stigmatization of mental health, and providing better social support to individuals with peripartum mental health issues.

Talk Title: Examining the Impact of Canadian Arctic Contaminants on Perinatal Maternal Brain Plasticity and Behaviour
Abstract: The developing nervous system is particularly vulnerable to the effects of environmental perturbations. These can disturb different developmental processes that can have long lasting effects. A variety of signals in the in utero and neonate’s environment may affect brain development and behaviour. An important consideration is the environment provided by the mother. She nourishes and cleanses, and offers warmth, sensory stimulation and protection to her offspring. However, little is known about the consequences on the mother of perturbations to the mother’s own environment during pregnancy and post partum. Effects on plasticity of her brain and consequently maternal behaviour could disrupt the environment she provides for her offspring. Given that offspring brain development and behaviour are uniquely tied in with maternal care, better understanding the plasticity of the maternal brain and how environmental factors may affect it is key to understanding interactions between direct and indirect environmental effects on offspring brain development and behaviour. High levels of environmental toxicants are present in the blood of populations living in the Canadian Arctic; among others, these include methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides. The effects of complex combinations of these toxicants are rarely studied, even though individuals are typically exposed to multiple pollutants over time. Research findings suggest neurochemical changes in rodent models related to exposure to these environmental toxicants. While we have studied their effects from in utero or early life exposure on offspring neurodevelopment, singularly and in combination, very little work has focused on the impact they may have on perinatal maternal brain and behaviour. Our work tries to better understand the effects of this ecologically relevant toxicant mixture on the perinatal maternal brain.

Dr. Kozeta Miliku completed her Medical Doctorate at the Medical University of Tirana, Albania. Following her medical degree, she received a doctoral degree in Clinical Epidemiology, in the Generation R study, at the Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands. Dr. Miliku’s postdoctoral research at the University of Manitoba and McMaster University focused on understanding the role of early life nutrition and genetics in the developmental origins of chronic disease, including cardiometabolic health and asthma.

Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Nutritional Science, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at McMaster University in the Department of Medicine and Chief Clinical Science Officer at the CHILD Cohort Study. Her research interest focuses on the field of developmental origins of health and disease, with a specific focus on cardiometabolic health. With dual expertise in medicine and epidemiology, Dr. Miliku uses a trans-disciplinary approach to bridge the traditional pillars of research. Her current projects are incorporated in birth cohorts and focus on the role of preconception nutrition. The ultimate goal is to prevent chronic disease through evidence-informed interventions during critical periods of development.

Talk Title: Preschool dietary patterns in Canadian Children and their role in cardiometabolic disease development
Abstract: Background: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation report in 2014, 80% of premature death from CMD could be prevented by a healthy lifestyle, where diet is a crucial component. CMD risk factors can be traced back to nutrition during early life. Early childhood is a critical period of development in which resilience is developed, and important aspects for future health are established, including dietary patterns. Previous literature suggests that early childhood dietary patterns can track throughout life. Therefore, we aimed to determine dietary patterns in Canadian preschoolers and identify their role in CMD risk factors development.

Methods: We leveraged data from a subset (n=2400 participants) of one of the largest population-based prospective Canadian pregnancy cohorts, the CHILD Cohort Study. We used a 112-item Food Frequency Questionnaire to collect information on child diet intake at three years of age. At age five, child weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured using standardized protocols. We employed data-driven approaches to derive dietary patterns and regression analyses to determine the associations of dietary patterns with health outcomes. The analyses were adjusted for potential parental, birth, and childhood factors. Child sex was considered a potential effect modifier.

Results and Conclusions: Among Canadian preschool children, we identified three dietary patterns: “Prudent” (characterized by a high intake of veggies, fruits, legumes, fish, and eggs); “Western-like” (characterized by a high intake of fast foods, red and processed meats, sweets, carbonated drinks); and “Snack” (characterized by a high intake of refined grains, cookies, cheese, and nuts). Preliminary analyses indicate sex-specific associations between dietary patterns and child CMD risk factors. Ultimately, this research will help inform dietary recommendations in preschool children to prevent the development of CMD risk factors.

Dr. Christine Till is a Professor in Clinical Developmental Psychology at York University in Toronto, adjunct scientist to the Neurosciences and Mental Health Program at SickKids, and a clinical neuropsychologist. She is the 2019 recipient of the President’s Emerging Research Leadership Award. Her research interests include children’s environmental health and understanding both protective and risk factors for cognitive decline following insult to the developing brain. She is currently leading multi-disciplinary research teams on studies examining the effects of early-life exposure to fluoride and other neurotoxicants on maternal thyroid functioning and child neurodevelopment. Her team is involved in three different population-based cohorts to understand how environmental chemicals are implicated as underlying risk factors for emerging morbidities in childhood, including ADHD.

Talk Title: The Neurotoxicity of Fluoride: A Wake-up Call
Abstract: The fluoridation of water supplies is widely promoted for its dental health benefits. However, the safety of this public health intervention has been a contentious topic for many decades. Human epidemiological studies and a recent systematic review by the National Toxicology Program have suggested adverse health effects of exposure to fluoride, including lower intelligence in children and thyroid hormone disruption. There is no consensus, however, on whether the evidence for neurotoxicity is sufficiently conclusive for populations living in areas where fluoride levels fall within the WHO-permissible limit of <1.5 ppm. This presentation will discuss the current state of epidemiologic research on fluoride neurodevelopmental toxicity, including dose-response relationships, critical windows of exposure, risk factors that may increase vulnerability, and potential mechanisms underlying fluoride neurotoxicity. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of whether the benefits of fluoride exposure outweigh potential risks, especially during the highly vulnerable in utero and early childhood developmental periods.