Fetal Dehydroepiandrosterone from Hair Samples at Birth Predicts Language Development

Michaela Reimann-Ayiköz; Jasmin Preiß; Eva Reisenberger; Cristina Florea; Monika Angerer; Manuel Schabus; Dietmar Roehm; Gesa Schaadt; Claudia Männel

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107663

Fetal Dehydroepiandrosterone from Hair Samples at Birth Predicts Language Development

Michaela Reimann-Ayiköz^*
, Jasmin Preiß
, Eva Reisenberger
, Cristina Florea
, Monika Angerer
, Manuel Schabus
, Dietmar Roehm
, Gesa Schaadt
, Claudia Männel

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objective

Sex hormones testosterone and estradiol have been related to children’s language development. Expanding the focus on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which has not yet been considered as a biological marker of language ability, may provide novel insights, as emerging evidence suggests that fetal DHEA plays a critical role in the organization of the neonatal brain, potentially shaping later language development. The present study investigated whether fetal DHEA, compared to fetal testosterone, is associated with infant language development.

Design and methods

DHEA and testosterone concentrations were measured in newborn hair strands (n = 63) collected two weeks after birth, capturing fetal long-term hormone secretions during the third trimester of pregnancy. At six months of age, children's language abilities were assessed using the German version of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

Results

Multiple linear regression analysis revealed fetal DHEA levels to be significantly associated with language abilities at six months of age in boys only, with lower DHEA levels corresponding to higher language scores. Control analyses assessing general cognitive abilities showed no association of fetal DHEA levels with infant cognitive function. Testosterone levels were not associated with language.

Conclusions

The current study identifies fetal DHEA levels extracted from newborn hair samples as a potential biological factor influencing infant language development in boys.

Original language	English
Article number	107663
Number of pages	9
Journal	Psychoneuroendocrinology
Volume	183
Early online date	28 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107663
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 28 Oct 2025

Keywords

Fetal Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Fetal Testosterone
Language Development
Biomarker
Hair Hormone Concentration

Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012

501 Psychology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107663Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{32e84b573312476c8a1c493c0d99ea81,

title = "Fetal Dehydroepiandrosterone from Hair Samples at Birth Predicts Language Development",

abstract = "ObjectiveSex hormones testosterone and estradiol have been related to children{\textquoteright}s language development. Expanding the focus on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which has not yet been considered as a biological marker of language ability, may provide novel insights, as emerging evidence suggests that fetal DHEA plays a critical role in the organization of the neonatal brain, potentially shaping later language development. The present study investigated whether fetal DHEA, compared to fetal testosterone, is associated with infant language development.Design and methodsDHEA and testosterone concentrations were measured in newborn hair strands (n = 63) collected two weeks after birth, capturing fetal long-term hormone secretions during the third trimester of pregnancy. At six months of age, children's language abilities were assessed using the German version of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis revealed fetal DHEA levels to be significantly associated with language abilities at six months of age in boys only, with lower DHEA levels corresponding to higher language scores. Control analyses assessing general cognitive abilities showed no association of fetal DHEA levels with infant cognitive function. Testosterone levels were not associated with language.ConclusionsThe current study identifies fetal DHEA levels extracted from newborn hair samples as a potential biological factor influencing infant language development in boys. ",

keywords = "Fetal Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Fetal Testosterone, Language Development, Biomarker, Hair Hormone Concentration",

author = "Michaela Reimann-Ayik{\"o}z and Jasmin Prei{\ss} and Eva Reisenberger and Cristina Florea and Monika Angerer and Manuel Schabus and Dietmar Roehm and Gesa Schaadt and Claudia M{\"a}nnel",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107663",

language = "English",

volume = "183",

journal = "Psychoneuroendocrinology",

issn = "0306-4530",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Fetal Dehydroepiandrosterone from Hair Samples at Birth Predicts Language Development

AU - Reimann-Ayiköz, Michaela

AU - Preiß, Jasmin

AU - Reisenberger, Eva

AU - Florea, Cristina

AU - Angerer, Monika

AU - Schabus, Manuel

AU - Roehm, Dietmar

AU - Schaadt, Gesa

AU - Männel, Claudia

PY - 2025/10/28

Y1 - 2025/10/28

N2 - ObjectiveSex hormones testosterone and estradiol have been related to children’s language development. Expanding the focus on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which has not yet been considered as a biological marker of language ability, may provide novel insights, as emerging evidence suggests that fetal DHEA plays a critical role in the organization of the neonatal brain, potentially shaping later language development. The present study investigated whether fetal DHEA, compared to fetal testosterone, is associated with infant language development.Design and methodsDHEA and testosterone concentrations were measured in newborn hair strands (n = 63) collected two weeks after birth, capturing fetal long-term hormone secretions during the third trimester of pregnancy. At six months of age, children's language abilities were assessed using the German version of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis revealed fetal DHEA levels to be significantly associated with language abilities at six months of age in boys only, with lower DHEA levels corresponding to higher language scores. Control analyses assessing general cognitive abilities showed no association of fetal DHEA levels with infant cognitive function. Testosterone levels were not associated with language.ConclusionsThe current study identifies fetal DHEA levels extracted from newborn hair samples as a potential biological factor influencing infant language development in boys.

AB - ObjectiveSex hormones testosterone and estradiol have been related to children’s language development. Expanding the focus on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which has not yet been considered as a biological marker of language ability, may provide novel insights, as emerging evidence suggests that fetal DHEA plays a critical role in the organization of the neonatal brain, potentially shaping later language development. The present study investigated whether fetal DHEA, compared to fetal testosterone, is associated with infant language development.Design and methodsDHEA and testosterone concentrations were measured in newborn hair strands (n = 63) collected two weeks after birth, capturing fetal long-term hormone secretions during the third trimester of pregnancy. At six months of age, children's language abilities were assessed using the German version of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis revealed fetal DHEA levels to be significantly associated with language abilities at six months of age in boys only, with lower DHEA levels corresponding to higher language scores. Control analyses assessing general cognitive abilities showed no association of fetal DHEA levels with infant cognitive function. Testosterone levels were not associated with language.ConclusionsThe current study identifies fetal DHEA levels extracted from newborn hair samples as a potential biological factor influencing infant language development in boys.

KW - Fetal Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

KW - Fetal Testosterone

KW - Language Development

KW - Biomarker

KW - Hair Hormone Concentration

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105020926472

U2 - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107663

DO - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107663

M3 - Article

SN - 0306-4530

VL - 183

JO - Psychoneuroendocrinology

JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology

M1 - 107663

ER -

Fetal Dehydroepiandrosterone from Hair Samples at Birth Predicts Language Development

Abstract

Keywords

Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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