Narrative review: perinatal exposures and biological aging trajectories
This narrative review links intrauterine exposures, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction to biological aging and later disease risk, while noting that confounding cannot be excluded. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review suggests the timing of gestational exposure, not birth weight alone, might govern programming outcomes. [1]
Preterm birth and fetal growth restriction are associated with a 30%–50% higher all-cause mortality risk in early-to-mid adulthood in observational cohorts. [1]
Residual confounding by shared genetic and postnatal factors cannot be excluded. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative review (abstract)
- Population / context
- People exposed to intrauterine conditions, preterm birth or fetal growth restriction, and their mothers
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 26, 2026
Review scope: fetal programming, maternal and placental factors
The authors describe a narrative review of evidence linking intrauterine exposures to adult health across three dimensions: fetal programming, maternal influences and placental mediation. They cite the Dutch Hunger Winter as suggesting that the timing of gestational exposure, not birth weight alone, might govern programming outcomes. They also report that modern epigenetic clock studies have found accelerated biological aging at midlife in famine-exposed individuals.
Supporting source [1]
Preterm birth and growth restriction linked to mortality
Preterm birth and fetal growth restriction are described as independently associated with reduced nephron endowment, impaired cardiac and pulmonary development and metabolic dysfunction. In observational cohorts, they are also linked to a 30%–50% increase in all-cause mortality risk in early-to-mid adulthood. Maternal factors such as advanced biological age, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and nutritional deficiencies are associated with increased offspring risk across multiple organ systems.
Supporting source [1]
Placental and microbiome mediators remain emerging evidence
The review states that residual confounding by shared genetic and postnatal factors cannot be excluded. It calls placental senescence and maternal microbiome dysbiosis emerging candidate mediators between perinatal adversity and long-term health. The authors propose lifetime risk stratification for people born preterm or with growth restriction, postpartum surveillance after pregnancy complications and prevention targeting the intrauterine environment, alongside strengthening the evidence base.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a narrative review, and the cited associations come largely from observational cohorts, so causality is not established.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Ozdemir SO, Davutoglu E. · europepmc.org · August 26, 2026