Grant: Operating Grant

The age at which women deliver their first child has increased steadily, particularly in Western societies, likely due to economic or educational reasons. Data from Statistics Canada show the proportions of first births occurring among women in their early thirties accounts for 26% of first births in Canada, and first births among women aged 35 years and older accounts for 11% of first births. Pregnancies at an advanced maternal age have a higher rate of obstetric complications and maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, including preeclampsia (potentially fatal high blood pressure in pregnancy), growth restriction (babies born small) and pre-term labor. This is in part due to pre-existing clinical or preclinical conditions associated with aging. Despite the increased rates of women delivering their first child at an advanced age, few studies have addressed this important, growing area of our population. Moreover, pregnancy complications can increase the risk of fetal programming of adult chronic disease. Thus the impact of impaired pregnancy adaptions affects future generations. We are studying novel pathways of vascular function that we discovered to be important in vascular complications of pregnancy as well as aging. The role of these pathways in aged pregnancy and in maternal cardiovascular health postpartum, is currently unknown. In addition, we will address the important question of whether being born to a mother of advanced maternal age can impact the cardiovascular health of offspring as adults and when they age (second hit), and investigate the mechanism by which this is occurs. This study will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind pregnancy complications at an advanced maternal age, and will ultimately enable the development of new therapeutic/preventative strategies for women chosing to have families at an advanced age to improve pregnancy outcomes for both the mother and child.