From Dec 2024: Hannah Stevens, M.D., Ph.D., on Autism, the Placenta & the Developing Brain

*Originally released in December 2024, this conversation is being re-released as part of a selection of guest interviews from the podcast archive.* For today’s episode, Dr. Hanna Stevens joins me to discuss prenatal brain development and the complex relationship between the placenta, maternal environment, genetics, and the developing brain. Dr. Stevens received her MD and PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois and leads the Psychiatry and Early Neurobiological Development Lab at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, where she is a Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and holder of the Ida P. Haller Chair. We discuss the placenta, prenatal stress, serotonin, cortisol, immune function, genetics, and autism, exploring how events before birth may influence brain development and later behavior. This conversation offers a fascinating look inside the womb and at an increasingly important question: when and how do differences in neurodevelopment begin? Dr. Hanna Stevens https://medicine.uiowa.edu/psychiatry/profile/hanna-stevens Iowa Healthcare https://uihc.org/childrens/providers/hanna-e-stevens Psychiatry and Early Neurobiological Development Lab (PENDL) https://stevens.lab.uiowa.edu Publications https://stevens.lab.uiowa.edu/publications **BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CHROMA'S NEW LIGHTS!!!** Elevate How You Navigate with Len & a free call https://elevatehowyounavigate.com MAYU Water, use "autism" for 10% off at https://mayuwater.com Daylight Computer Company, use "autism" for $50 off at https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/autism Daylight Kids (!!!) https://kids.daylightcomputer.com/autism ‪ Chroma Light Devices, use "autism" for 10% discount at https://getchroma.co/?ref=autism 0:00 Dr. Hanna Stevens 2:00 Journey into Neuroscience and Psychiatry 8:13 Prenatal Development of Autism 14:02 The significance of NF-kB in Brain Development 23:10 Serotonin; Leukocytes as a window into our Biology; Cortisol 29:02 Steroid Hormones and Stress & Development 34:12 Methylation 40:00 Cell Proliferation & Migration in Fetal Development; Antioxidants 45:56 Oxidative Stress; Mitochondria; Antioxidants 48:30 Quantum Biology/Physics \** Me shaking my head at minute 48:50 is not intended at Dr. Stevens, but at myself because I tell myself not to keep going to the electrons and light for a Cause of Autism to guests 53:19 Future Research & Dorsal Striatum; Volume; Brain Development