The impact of the placenta on neuropsychic development of the fetus

Introduction. The placenta is a key organ that determines the conditions of fetal development and neuropsychological health. It performs endocrine, metabolic, and barrier functions, regulates the supply of oxygen, nutrients, and hormones and protects the fetus from xenobiotics and pathogens. The aim of this review is to determine the interactions between the placenta and the fetal nervous system and the potential impact of their disorders on the further neuropsychological development of the fetus. The literature search was conducted in the Embase, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline databases. Placental process disorders lead to hypoxia, inflammation, and endocrine imbalances, which are associated with fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and central nervous system damage. Placental infection (chorioamnionitis) further increases cytokine exposure, causes epigenetic changes, and is associated with the risk of psychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and schizophrenia. Placental insufficiency is accompanied by blood flow remodeling, mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of inflammatory cascades, which contribute to the development of gliosis and impaired neuronal differentiation. The endocrine role of the placenta is manifested in the synthesis of neurosteroids (allopregnanolone, which plays a multifaceted role in the development of the central nervous system), the regulation of glucocorticoid levels, and the transport of thyroid hormones. These factors are critical for myelination, synaptic formation, and the emotional and cognitive stability of the fetus. Imbalances in these factors are associated with cortical thinning, impaired sensory processing, and behavioral disorders in the fetus. An additional mechanism of placental effect is the subcellular transport of microRNAs and extracellular vesicles involved in epigenetic regulation. These molecules are considered as promising biomarkers for early detection of cognitive and motor disorders in the fetus.

Contribution:
Sibirskaya E.V., Sharkov S.M., Ivannikov N.Yu. — study concept and design, data analysis, editing the text;
Aigistova N.M., Gorshkova D.V. — data collection, processing, analysis, writing the text;
Sibirskaya E.V. — editing the text.
All co-authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Acknowledgment. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: September 10, 2025
Accepted: October 02, 2025
Published: October 30, 2025

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