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Wedderburn CJ, Yeung S, Subramoney S, Fouche JP, Joshi SH, Narr KL, Rehman AM, Roos A, Gibb DM, Zar HJ, Stein DJ, Donald KA. Association of in utero HIV exposure with child brain structure and language development: a South African birth cohort study. BMC Med 2024; 22:129. [PMID: 38519887 PMCID: PMC10960435 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03282-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing population of children with in utero HIV exposure who are at risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes despite avoiding HIV infection. However, the underlying neurobiological pathways are not understood and neuroimaging studies are lacking. We aimed to investigate the cortical brain structure of children who are HIV-exposed and uninfected (HEU) compared to HIV-unexposed (HU) children and to examine the relationship with neurodevelopment. METHODS The Drakenstein Child Health birth cohort study enrolled pregnant women from a high HIV prevalence area in South Africa with longitudinal follow-up of mother-child pairs. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans from 162 children (70 HEU; 92 HU) were acquired at 2-3 years of age. All HEU children were born to mothers taking antiretroviral therapy. Measures of brain structure (cortical thickness and surface area) in the prefrontal cortex regions were extracted from T1-weighted images and compared between groups using multivariate analysis of variance and linear regression. Child development, assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III, was correlated with cortical structure, and mediation analyses were performed. RESULTS Analyses demonstrated an association between HIV exposure and cortical thickness across the prefrontal cortex (p = 0.035). Children who were HEU had thicker cortices in prefrontal regions, with significantly greater cortical thickness in the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) bilaterally compared to HU children (3.21 mm versus 3.14 mm, p = 0.009, adjusted effect size 0.44 [95% CI 0.12 to 0.75]). Estimates held across multiple sensitivity analyses. There were no group differences in cortical surface area. Language scores, which were lower in HEU versus HU children (81.82 versus 86.25, p = 0.011, effect size - 0.44 [95% CI - 0.78 to - 0.09]), negatively correlated with prefrontal cortical thickness in both groups. Cortical thickness in the mOFC mediated the relationship between HIV exposure and poor language outcomes (Sobel test p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS In this cohort study, exposure to HIV during pregnancy was associated with altered cortical structure in early life. Our findings indicate that differences in cortical thickness development in the prefrontal region in children who are HEU may be a pathway leading to language impairment. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the lasting impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Wedderburn
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
- The Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sivenesi Subramoney
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jean-Paul Fouche
- The Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shantanu H Joshi
- Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Katherine L Narr
- Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Andrea M Rehman
- MRC International Statistics & Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Annerine Roos
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- The Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- SA MRC Unit On Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Diana M Gibb
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, UK
| | - Heather J Zar
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- SA MRC Unit On Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dan J Stein
- The Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- SA MRC Unit On Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kirsten A Donald
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- The Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Thompson DK, Kelly CE, Dhollander T, Muggli E, Hearps S, Lewis S, Nguyen TNN, Spittle A, Elliott EJ, Penington A, Halliday J, Anderson PJ. Associations between low-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and brain development in childhood. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 42:103595. [PMID: 38555806 PMCID: PMC10998198 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of low-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on brain development have been infrequently studied. AIM To compare cortical and white matter structure between children aged 6 to 8 years with low-moderate PAE in trimester 1 only, low-moderate PAE throughout gestation, or no PAE. METHODS Women reported quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy. Magnetic resonance imaging was undertaken for 143 children aged 6 to 8 years with PAE during trimester 1 only (n = 44), PAE throughout gestation (n = 58), and no PAE (n = 41). T1-weighted images were processed using FreeSurfer, obtaining brain volume, area, and thickness of 34 cortical regions per hemisphere. Fibre density (FD), fibre cross-section (FC) and fibre density and cross-section (FDC) metrics were computed for diffusion images. Brain measures were compared between PAE groups adjusted for age and sex, then additionally for intracranial volume. RESULTS After adjustments, the right caudal anterior cingulate cortex volume (pFDR = 0.045) and area (pFDR = 0.008), and right cingulum tract cross-sectional area (pFWE < 0.05) were smaller in children exposed to alcohol throughout gestation compared with no PAE. CONCLUSION This study reports a relationship between low-moderate PAE throughout gestation and cingulate cortex and cingulum tract alterations, suggesting a teratogenic vulnerability. Further investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanne K Thompson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claire E Kelly
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thijs Dhollander
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Evelyne Muggli
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephen Hearps
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sharon Lewis
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Alicia Spittle
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elizabeth J Elliott
- The University of Sydney, Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Kids Research, Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anthony Penington
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane Halliday
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter J Anderson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
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Gonçalves PD, Martins SS, Gebru NM, Ryan-Pettes SR, Allgaier N, Potter A, Thompson WK, Johnson ME, Garavan H, Talati A, Albaugh MD. Associations Between Family History of Alcohol and/or Substance Use Problems and Frontal Cortical Development From 9 to 13 Years of Age: A Longitudinal Analysis of the ABCD Study. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100284. [PMID: 38312852 PMCID: PMC10837483 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.100284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Previous investigations that have examined associations between family history (FH) of alcohol/substance use and adolescent brain development have been primarily cross-sectional. Here, leveraging a large population-based sample of youths, we characterized frontal cortical trajectories among 9- to 13-year-olds with (FH+) versus without (FH-) an FH and examined sex as a potential moderator. Methods We used data from 9710 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (release 4.0). FH+ was defined as having ≥1 biological parents and/or ≥2 biological grandparents with a history of alcohol/substance use problems (n = 2433). Our primary outcome was frontal cortical structural measures obtained at baseline (ages 9-11) and year 2 follow-up (ages 11-13). We used linear mixed-effects models to examine the extent to which FH status qualified frontal cortical development over the age span studied. Finally, we ran additional interactions with sex to test whether observed associations between FH and cortical development differed significantly between sexes. Results For FH+ (vs. FH-) youths, we observed increased cortical thinning from 9 to 13 years across the frontal cortex as a whole. When we probed for sex differences, we observed significant declines in frontal cortical thickness among boys but not girls from ages 9 to 13 years. No associations were observed between FH and frontal cortical surface area or volume. Conclusions Having a FH+ is associated with more rapid thinning of the frontal cortex across ages 9 to 13, with this effect driven primarily by male participants. Future studies will need to test whether the observed pattern of accelerated thinning predicts future substance use outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Dib Gonçalves
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Silvia S. Martins
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Nioud Mulugeta Gebru
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island
| | | | - Nicholas Allgaier
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Alexandra Potter
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Wesley K. Thompson
- Center for Population Neuroscience and Genetics, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma
| | - Micah E. Johnson
- Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Ardesheer Talati
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
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Milbocker KA, Williams LT, Caban-Rivera DA, Smith IF, Kurtz S, McGarry MDJ, Wattrisse B, Van Houten EEW, Johnson CL, Klintsova AY. Magnetic resonance elastography captures a transient benefit of exercise intervention on forebrain stiffness in a rat model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 48:466-477. [PMID: 38225180 PMCID: PMC11162295 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), a group of prevalent conditions resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure, affect the maturation of cerebral white matter as first identified with neuroimaging. However, traditional methods are unable to track subtle microstructural alterations to white matter. This preliminary study uses a highly sensitive and clinically translatable magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) protocol to assess brain tissue microstructure through its mechanical properties following an exercise intervention in a rat model of FASD. METHODS Female rat pups were either alcohol-exposed (AE) via intragastric intubation of alcohol in milk substitute (5.25 g/kg/day) or sham-intubated (SI) on postnatal days (PD) four through nine to model alcohol exposure during the brain growth spurt. On PD 30, half of AE and SI rats were randomly assigned to either a wheel-running or standard cage for 12 days. Magnetic resonance elastography was used to measure whole brain and callosal mechanical properties at the end of the intervention (around PD 42) and at 1 month post-intervention, and findings were validated with histological quantification of oligoglia. RESULTS Alcohol exposure reduced forebrain stiffness (p = 0.02) in standard-housed rats. The adolescent exercise intervention mitigated this effect, confirming that increased aerobic activity supports proper neurodevelopmental trajectories. Forebrain damping ratio was lowest in standard-housed AE rats (p < 0.01), but this effect was not mitigated by intervention exposure. At 1 month post-intervention, all rats exhibited comparable forebrain stiffness and damping ratio (p > 0.05). Callosal stiffness and damping ratio increased with age. With cessation of exercise, there was a negative rebound effect on the quantity of callosal oligodendrocytes, irrespective of treatment group, which diverged from our MRE results. CONCLUSIONS This is the first application of MRE to measure the brain's mechanical properties in a rodent model of FASD. MRE successfully captured alcohol-related changes in forebrain stiffness and damping ratio. Additionally, MRE identified an exercise-related increase to forebrain stiffness in AE rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina A. Milbocker
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - L. Tyler Williams
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | | | - Ian F. Smith
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Samuel Kurtz
- Laboratorie de Mecanique et Genie Civil, CNRS, Universite de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Bertrand Wattrisse
- Laboratorie de Mecanique et Genie Civil, CNRS, Universite de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Curtis L. Johnson
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Anna Y. Klintsova
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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Poth LD, Love T, Mattson SN. Profiles of language and communication abilities in adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2023; 29:724-733. [PMID: 36325639 PMCID: PMC10154428 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617722000789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Language and communication are largely understudied among youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Findings have been mixed, and have generally focused on more severely affected (i.e., children with FAS alone) or younger children. This study aimed to elucidate the profiles of language (i.e., receptive, expressive, general language) and communication (i.e., functional, social) abilities in adolescents with FASD. METHOD Participants aged 12-17 years with (AE = 31) and without (CON = 29) prenatal alcohol exposure were included. Receptive and expressive language were measured by the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - Fifth Edition (CELF-5). Parents or caregivers completed the Children's Communication Checklist - Second Edition as a subjective measure of general language skills. Functional communication was measured by the Student Functional Assessment of Verbal Reasoning and Executive Strategies and parents or caregivers completed the Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales as a measure of social communication. Multivariate analysis of variance determined the overall profiles of language and communication and whether they differed between groups. RESULTS The AE group performed significantly lower than the CON group on receptive language and parent report of general language while groups did not significantly differ on expressive language. Groups did not significantly differ on functional communication while social communication was significantly lower in the AE group. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study provide important information regarding the overall profile of basic language abilities and higher-level communication skills of adolescents with FASD. Ultimately, improving communication skills of youth with FASD may translate to better overall functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren D. Poth
- Center for Behavioral Teratology and Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Tracy Love
- School of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120
| | - Sarah N. Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology and Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120
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Milbocker KA, Williams LT, Caban-Rivera DA, Smith IF, Kurtz S, McGarry MDJ, Wattrisse B, Van Houten EEW, Johnson CL, Klintsova AY. Monitoring lasting changes to brain tissue integrity through mechanical properties following adolescent exercise intervention in a rat model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.26.559571. [PMID: 37808633 PMCID: PMC10557734 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.26.559571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Background Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) encompass a group of highly prevalent conditions resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol exposure during the third trimester of pregnancy overlapping with the brain growth spurt is detrimental to white matter growth and myelination, particularly in the corpus callosum, ultimately affecting tissue integrity in adolescence. Traditional neuroimaging techniques have been essential for assessing neurodevelopment in affected youth; however, these methods are limited in their capacity to track subtle microstructural alterations to white matter, thus restricting their effectiveness in monitoring therapeutic intervention. In this preliminary study we use a highly sensitive and clinically translatable Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) protocol for assessing brain tissue microstructure through its mechanical properties following an exercise intervention in a rat model of FASD. Methods Rat pups were divided into two groups: alcohol-exposed (AE) pups which received alcohol in milk substitute (5.25 g/kg/day) via intragastric intubation on postnatal days (PD) four through nine during the rat brain growth spurt (Dobbing and Sands, 1979), or sham-intubated (SI) controls. In adolescence, on PD 30, half AE and SI rats were randomly assigned to either a modified home cage with free access to a running wheel or to a new home cage for 12 days (Gursky and Klintsova, 2017). Previous studies conducted in the lab have shown that 12 days of voluntary exercise intervention in adolescence immediately ameliorated callosal myelination in AE rats (Milbocker et al., 2022, 2023). MRE was used to measure longitudinal changes to mechanical properties of the whole brain and the corpus callosum at intervention termination and one-month post-intervention. Histological quantification of precursor and myelinating oligoglia in corpus callosum was performed one-month post-intervention. Results Prior to intervention, AE rats had lower forebrain stiffness in adolescence compared to SI controls ( p = 0.02). Exercise intervention immediately mitigated this effect in AE rats, resulting in higher forebrain stiffness post-intervention in adolescence. Similarly, we discovered that forebrain damping ratio was lowest in AE rats in adolescence ( p < 0.01), irrespective of intervention exposure. One-month post-intervention in adulthood, AE and SI rats exhibited comparable forebrain stiffness and damping ratio (p > 0.05). Taken together, these MRE data suggest that adolescent exercise intervention supports neurodevelopmental "catch-up" in AE rats. Analysis of the stiffness and damping ratio of the body of corpus callosum revealed that these measures increased with age. Finally, histological quantification of myelinating oligodendrocytes one-month post-intervention revealed a negative rebound effect of exercise cessation on the total estimate of these cells in the body of corpus callosum, irrespective of treatment group which was not convergent with noninvasive MRE measures. Conclusions This is the first application of MRE to measure changes in brain mechanical properties in a rodent model of FASD. MRE successfully captured alcohol-related changes to forebrain stiffness and damping ratio in adolescence. These preliminary findings expand upon results from previous studies which used traditional diffusion neuroimaging to identify structural changes to the adolescent brain in rodent models of FASD (Milbocker et al., 2022; Newville et al., 2017). Additionally, in vivo MRE identified an exercise-related alteration to forebrain stiffness that occurred in adolescence, immediately post-intervention.
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Boateng T, Beauchamp K, Torres F, Ruffaner-Hanson CD, Pinner JFL, Vakamudi K, Cerros C, Hill DE, Stephen JM. Brain structural differences in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and its subtypes. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1152038. [PMID: 37621716 PMCID: PMC10445146 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1152038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The teratogenic effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) have been examined in animal models and humans. The current study extends the prior literature by quantifying differences in brain structure for individuals with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) compared to typically developing controls, as well as examining FASD subtypes. We hypothesized the FASD group would reveal smaller brain volume, reduced cortical thickness, and reduced surface area compared to controls, with the partial fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS)/fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) subtypes showing the largest effects and the PAE/alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) subtype revealing intermediate effects. Methods The sample consisted of 123 children and adolescents recruited from a single site including children with a diagnosis of FASD/PAE (26 males, 29 females) and controls (34 males, 34 females). Structural T1-weighted MRI scans were obtained on a 3T Trio TIM scanner and FreeSurfer v7.2 was used to quantify brain volume, cortical thickness, and surface area. Analyses examined effects by subgroup: pFAS/FAS (N = 32, Mage = 10.7 years, SEage = 0.79), PAE/ARND (N = 23, Mage = 10.8, SEage = 0.94), and controls (N = 68, Mage = 11.1, SEage = 0.54). Results Total brain volume in children with an FASD was smaller relative to controls, but subtype analysis revealed only the pFAS/FAS group differed significantly from controls. Regional analyses similarly revealed reduced brain volume in frontal and temporal regions for children with pFAS/FAS, yet children diagnosed with PAE/ARND generally had similar volumes as controls. Notable differences to this pattern occurred in the cerebellum, caudate, and pallidum where children with pFAS/FAS and PAE/ARND revealed lower volume relative to controls. In the subset of participants who had neuropsychological testing, correlations between volume and IQ scores were observed. Goodness-of-Fit analysis by age revealed differences in developmental patterns (linear vs. quadratic) between groups in some cases. Discussion This study confirmed prior results indicating decreased brain volume in children with an FASD and extended the results by demonstrating differential effects by structure for FASD subtypes. It provides further evidence for a complex role of PAE in structural brain development that is likely related to the cognitive and behavioral effects experienced by children with an FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresah Boateng
- Department of Special Education, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Kathryn Beauchamp
- College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- The Mind Research Network, Division of the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Faerl Torres
- The Mind Research Network, Division of the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Chaselyn D. Ruffaner-Hanson
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - John F. L. Pinner
- The Mind Research Network, Division of the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Kishore Vakamudi
- The Mind Research Network, Division of the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Cassandra Cerros
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Dina E. Hill
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Julia M. Stephen
- The Mind Research Network, Division of the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Gimbel BA, Roediger DJ, Ernst AM, Anthony ME, de Water E, Mueller BA, Rockhold MN, Schumacher MJ, Mattson SN, Jones KL, Lim KO, Wozniak JR. Delayed cortical thinning in children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:1312-1326. [PMID: 37132064 PMCID: PMC10851870 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is associated with abnormalities in cortical structure and maturation, including cortical thickness (CT), cortical volume, and surface area. This study provides a longitudinal context for the developmental trajectory and timing of abnormal cortical maturation in PAE. METHODS We studied 35 children with PAE and 30 nonexposed typically developing children (Comparisons), aged 8-17 at enrollment, who were recruited from the University of Minnesota FASD Program. Participants were matched on age and sex. They underwent a formal evaluation of growth and dysmorphic facial features associated with PAE and completed cognitive testing. MRI data were collected on a Siemens Prisma 3T scanner. Two sessions, each including MRI scans and cognitive testing, were spaced approximately 15 months apart on average. Change in CT and performance on tests of executive function (EF) were examined. RESULTS Significant age-by-group (PAE vs. Comparison) linear interaction effects in CT were observed in the parietal, temporal, occipital, and insular cortices suggesting altered developmental trajectories in the PAE vs. Comparison groups. Results suggest a pattern of delayed cortical thinning in PAE, with the Comparison group showing more rapid thinning at younger ages and those with PAE showing accelerated thinning at older ages. Overall, children in the PAE group showed reduced cortical thinning across time relative to the Comparison participants. Symmetrized percent change (SPC) in CT in several regions was significantly correlated with EF performance at 15-month follow-up for the Comparison group but not the group with PAE. CONCLUSIONS Regional differences were seen longitudinally in the trajectory and timing of CT change in children with PAE, suggesting delayed cortical maturation and an atypical pattern of development compared with typically developing individuals. In addition, exploratory correlation analyses of SPC and EF performance suggest the presence of atypical brain-behavior relationships in PAE. The findings highlight the potential role of altered developmental timing of cortical maturation in contributing to long-term functional impairment in PAE.
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Fraize J, Convert G, Leprince Y, Sylvestre-Marconville F, Kerdreux E, Auzias G, Lefèvre J, Delorme R, Elmaleh-Bergès M, Hertz-Pannier L, Germanaud D. Mapping corpus callosum surface reduction in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders with sulci and connectivity-based parcellation. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1188367. [PMID: 37360177 PMCID: PMC10288872 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1188367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) range from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) to non-syndromic non-specific forms (NS-FASD) that are still underdiagnosed and could benefit from new neuroanatomical markers. The main neuroanatomical manifestation of prenatal alcohol exposure on developmental toxicity is the reduction in brain size, but repeated imaging observations have long driven the attention on the corpus callosum (CC), without being all convergent. Our study proposed a new segmentation of the CC that relies on both a sulci-based cortical segmentation and the "hemispherotopic" organization of the transcallosal fibers. Methods We collected a monocentric series of 37 subjects with FAS, 28 with NS-FASD, and 38 with typical development (6 to 25 years old) using brain MRI (1.5T). Associating T1- and diffusion-weighted imaging, we projected a sulci-based cortical segmentation of the hemispheres on the midsagittal section of the CC, resulting in seven homologous anterior-posterior parcels (frontopolar, anterior and posterior prefrontal, precentral, postcentral, parietal, and occipital). We measured the effect of FASD on the area of callosal and cortical parcels by considering age, sex, and brain size as linear covariates. The surface proportion of the corresponding cortical parcel was introduced as an additional covariate. We performed a normative analysis to identify subjects with an abnormally small parcel. Results All callosal and cortical parcels were smaller in the FASD group compared with controls. When accounting for age, sex, and brain size, only the postcentral (η2 = 6.5%, pFDR = 0.032) callosal parcel and % of the cortical parcel (η2 = 8.9%, pFDR = 0.007) were still smaller. Adding the surface proportion (%) of the corresponding cortical parcel to the model, only the occipital parcel was persistently reduced in the FASD group (η2 = 5.7%, pFDR = 0.014). In the normative analysis, we found an excess of subjects with FASD with abnormally small precentral and postcentral (peri-isthmic) and posterior-splenial parcels (pFDR < 0.05). Conclusion The objective sulcal and connectivity-based method of CC parcellation proved to be useful not only in confirming posterior-splenial damage in FASD but also in the narrowing of the peri-isthmic region strongly associated with a specific size reduction in the corresponding postcentral cortical region (postcentral gyrus). The normative analysis showed that this type of callosal segmentation could provide a clinically relevant neuroanatomical endophenotype, even in NS-FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Fraize
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Gabrielle Convert
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Yann Leprince
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Florent Sylvestre-Marconville
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Eliot Kerdreux
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Auzias
- Institut de Neurosciences de La Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Julien Lefèvre
- Institut de Neurosciences de La Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Robert-Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Centre of Excellence InovAND, Paris, France
| | - Monique Elmaleh-Bergès
- Department of Pediatric Radiologic, Robert-Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Centre of Excellence InovAND, Paris, France
| | - Lucie Hertz-Pannier
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - David Germanaud
- UNIACT, NeuroSpin, Frederic Joliot Institute, Centre d'études de Saclay, CEA Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- InDEV, NeuroDiderot, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Department of Genetics, Robert-Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Centre de Référence Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares, Centre of Excellence InovAND, Paris, France
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10
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Fraize J, Fischer C, Elmaleh-Bergès M, Kerdreux E, Beggiato A, Ntorkou A, Duchesnay E, Bekha D, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Delorme R, Hertz-Pannier L, Germanaud D. Enhancing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders diagnosis with a classifier based on the intracerebellar gradient of volumetric undersizing. Hum Brain Mapp 2023. [PMID: 37209313 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), brain growth deficiency is a hallmark of subjects both with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and with non-syndromic FASD (NS-FASD, i.e., those without specific diagnostic features). However, although the cerebellum was suggested to be more severely undersized than the rest of the brain, it has not yet been given a specific place in the FASD diagnostic criteria where neuroanatomical features still count for little if anything in diagnostic specificity. We applied a combination of cerebellar segmentation tools on a 1.5 T 3DT1 brain MRI dataset from a monocentric population of 89 FASD (52 FAS, 37 NS-FASD) and 126 typically developing controls (6-20 years old), providing 8 volumes: cerebellum, vermis and 3 lobes (anterior, posterior, inferior), plus total brain volume. After adjustment of confounders, the allometric scaling relationship between these cerebellar volumes (Vi ) and the total brain or cerebellum volume (Vt ) was fitted (Vi = bVt a ), and the effect of group (FAS, control) on allometric scaling was evaluated. We then estimated for each cerebellar volume in the FAS population the deviation from the typical scaling (v DTS) learned in the controls. Lastly, we trained and tested two classifiers to discriminate FAS from controls, one based on the total cerebellum v DTS only, the other based on all the cerebellar v DTS, comparing their performance both in the FAS and the NS-FASD group. Allometric scaling was significantly different between FAS and control group for all the cerebellar volumes (p < .001). We confirmed the excess of total cerebellum volume deficit (v DTS = -10.6%) and revealed an antero-inferior-posterior gradient of volumetric undersizing in the hemispheres (-12.4%, 1.1%, 2.0%, repectively) and the vermis (-16.7%, -9.2%, -8.6%, repectively). The classifier based on the intracerebellar gradient of v DTS performed more efficiently than the one based on total cerebellum v DTS only (AUC = 92% vs. 82%, p = .001). Setting a high probability threshold for >95% specificity of the classifiers, the gradient-based classifier identified 35% of the NS-FASD to have a FAS cerebellar phenotype, compared to 11% with the cerebellum-only classifier (pFISHER = 0.027). In a large series of FASD, this study details the volumetric undersizing within the cerebellum at the lobar and vermian level using allometric scaling, revealing an anterior-inferior-posterior gradient of vulnerability to prenatal alcohol exposure. It also strongly suggests that this intracerebellar gradient of volumetric undersizing may be a reliable neuroanatomical signature of FAS that could be used to improve the specificity of the diagnosis of NS-FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Fraize
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Centre d'études de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, U1141 NeuroDiderot, inDEV, Paris, France
| | - Clara Fischer
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, BAOBAB, Centre d'études de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Monique Elmaleh-Bergès
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, U1141 NeuroDiderot, inDEV, Paris, France
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Centre of Excellence InovAND, AP-HP, Robert-Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Eliot Kerdreux
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Centre d'études de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, U1141 NeuroDiderot, inDEV, Paris, France
| | - Anita Beggiato
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre of Excellence InovAND, AP-HP, Robert-Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Ntorkou
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Centre of Excellence InovAND, AP-HP, Robert-Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Edouard Duchesnay
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, BAOBAB, Centre d'études de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Dhaif Bekha
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Centre d'études de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, U1141 NeuroDiderot, inDEV, Paris, France
| | | | - Richard Delorme
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre of Excellence InovAND, AP-HP, Robert-Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Lucie Hertz-Pannier
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Centre d'études de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, U1141 NeuroDiderot, inDEV, Paris, France
| | - David Germanaud
- CEA Paris-Saclay, Joliot Institute, NeuroSpin, UNIACT, Centre d'études de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, U1141 NeuroDiderot, inDEV, Paris, France
- Department of Genetics, Centre of Excellence InovAND, AP-HP, Robert-Debré Hospital, Paris, France
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11
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Novick Brown N, Greenspan S. Diminished culpability in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2022; 40:1-13. [PMID: 34625995 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There is a biological basis for diminished criminal responsibility in offenders with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) just as there is in those with intellectual disability. Functional limitations affecting cognition in both neurodevelopmental conditions stem directly from structural brain damage at a gross and molecular level, which usually impairs executive functioning among other cognitive skills. Executive functioning, which includes reasoning and impulse control, is the only neural system in the brain that involves conscious thought. With respect to the law, impaired reasoning or rationality is an aspect of mens rea ("guilty mind"). When rationality is impaired by prenatal alcohol exposure, acts driven by strong emotion and urges can occur, which has obvious implications regarding criminal responsibility. The Atkins decision by the U.S. Supreme Court reflects the rationale that organically based brain dysfunction in executive skills reduces criminal culpability. We argue that people with FASD who have similar brain dysfunction likewise have reduced criminal responsibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Novick Brown
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen Greenspan
- Educational Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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12
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Age-dependent effects of embryonic ethanol exposure on anxiety-like behaviours in young zebrafish: A genotype comparison study. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 214:173342. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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13
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Moore EM, Xia Y. Neurodevelopmental Trajectories Following Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 15:695855. [PMID: 35058760 PMCID: PMC8763806 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.695855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) interferes with neurodevelopment. The brain is particularly susceptible to the adverse consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure, and numerous studies have documented changes to brain anatomy and function, as well as consequences for cognition, behavior, and mental health. Studies in typically developing individuals have shown that the brain undergoes dynamic developmental processes over an individual’s lifespan. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders have shown that their developmental trajectories differ from the typical pattern. Therefore, to understand long-term clinical outcomes of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), it is necessary to investigate changes in neurodevelopmental trajectories in this population. Here we review studies that have used MRI to evaluate changes in brain structure and function over time via cross-sectional or longitudinal methods in individuals with PAE. Research demonstrates that individuals with PAE have atypical cortical and white matter microstructural developmental trajectories through childhood and adolescence. More research is needed to understand how factors such as sex and postnatal experiences may further mediate these trajectories. Furthermore, nothing is known about the trajectories beyond young adulthood.
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14
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Lebel CA, Gibbard WB, Tortorelli C, Pei J, Beaulieu C, Bagshawe M, McMorris CA. Prenatal Exposure And Child brain and mental Health (PEACH) study: protocol for a cohort study of children and youth with prenatal alcohol exposure. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e051660. [PMID: 33980537 PMCID: PMC8118071 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which is caused by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), affects an estimated 4% of North Americans, and is the most common preventable cause of intellectual disability. Mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, are experienced by nearly all individuals with FASD. However, there is very limited knowledge about effective mental health treatments for individuals with FASD; effective treatments are hindered in part due to a lack of understanding of the basic neurobiology underlying internalising disorders in youth with FASD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The Prenatal Exposure And Child brain and mental Health (PEACH) study includes children aged 7-18 years. We will use longitudinal neuroimaging (anatomical T1-weighted, diffusion and passive viewing function MRI) and mental health assessments (Behaviour Assessment Scale for Children, Multi-dimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, Children's Depression Inventory (CDI-2), Kiddie Scale of Affective Disorders) to: (1) characterise brain development trajectories in youth with FASD, (2) determine whether brain alterations mediate increased anxiety and depression in youth with FASD and (3) identify baseline brain features that predict changes of anxiety and depression symptoms over the next 2 years. All of this will be done while considering sex and adverse postnatal experiences, which can significantly impact mental health and brain outcomes. This project will forge new understanding of FASD and mental health from a neurobiological perspective, highlighting key time periods (ie, sensitive windows) and brain regions (ie, that may be susceptible to neurostimulation), while identifying factors that predict individual trajectories of anxiety and depression symptoms. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study was approved by the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board and the University of Alberta Health Research Ethics Board. Study results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, at relevant conferences and in conjunction with our knowledge mobilisation partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Lebel
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - W Ben Gibbard
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Jacqueline Pei
- Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mercedes Bagshawe
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Carly A McMorris
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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15
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Moore EM, Glass L, Infante MA, Coles CD, Kable JA, Jones KL, Riley EP, Mattson SN. Cross-Sectional Analysis of Spatial Working Memory Development in Children with Histories of Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 45:215-223. [PMID: 33190244 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In children with prenatal alcohol exposure, spatial working memory is affected and brain regions important for spatial working memory performance exhibit atypical neurodevelopment. We therefore hypothesized that children with prenatal alcohol exposure may also have atypical development of spatial working memory ability. METHODS We examined the relation between spatial working memory and age using a cross-sectional developmental trajectory approach in youth with and without histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Spatial Working Memory subtest was administered to children 5.0 to 16.9 years old. RESULTS While the controls and children with prenatal alcohol exposure showed similar performance at younger ages, larger group differences were observed in older children. This effect was replicated in a separate sample. CONCLUSIONS The atypical brain development that has previously been reported in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure may have clinically relevant implications for cognitive development; however, longitudinal cognitive analyses are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M Moore
- From the, Department of Psychology, (EMM, LG, MAI, EPR, SNM), Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Leila Glass
- From the, Department of Psychology, (EMM, LG, MAI, EPR, SNM), Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.,Los Angeles Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, (LG), University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - M Alejandra Infante
- From the, Department of Psychology, (EMM, LG, MAI, EPR, SNM), Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.,Department of Psychiatry, (MAI), University of California, San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Claire D Coles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, (CDC), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Pediatrics, (CDC, JAK), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Julie A Kable
- Department of Pediatrics, (CDC, JAK), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kenneth L Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, (KLJ), School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Edward P Riley
- From the, Department of Psychology, (EMM, LG, MAI, EPR, SNM), Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- From the, Department of Psychology, (EMM, LG, MAI, EPR, SNM), Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
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16
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McLachlan K, Zhou D, Little G, Rasmussen C, Pei J, Andrew G, Reynolds JN, Beaulieu C. Current Socioeconomic Status Correlates With Brain Volumes in Healthy Children and Adolescents but Not in Children With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:223. [PMID: 32714166 PMCID: PMC7344164 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) exhibit neurological deficits associated with brain injury including smaller brain volumes. Additional risk factors such as lower socioeconomic status (SES) may also have an impact on brain development for this population. This study examined how brain volumes are related to SES in both neurotypically developing children and adolescents, and those with PAE. 3D T1-weighted MPRAGE images were acquired from 69 participants with PAE (13.0 ± 3.2 years, range 7.1–18.8 years, 49% female) and 70 neurotypical controls (12.4 ± 2.9 years, range 7.0–18.5 years, 60% female) from four scanning sites in Canada. SES scores calculated using Hollingshead’s Four-Factor Index of Social Status from current caregiver placement were not significantly different between groups, though more children with PAE had lower SES scores compared to controls. Psychometric data comprised 14 cognitive measures, including executive functioning, attention and working memory, memory, math/numerical ability, and word reading. All cognitive scores were significantly worse in children with PAE compared to controls, though SES was not correlated with cognitive scores in either group after correction for multiple comparisons. All 13 brain volumes were smaller in children with PAE compared to children in the control group. Higher SES was associated with larger hippocampus and amygdala volumes in controls, but there were no such associations in children with PAE. Direct evaluation of the interaction between SES and diagnostic group did not show a significant differential impact of SES on these structures. These findings support previous links between SES and brain volumes in neurotypically developing children, but the lack of such a relationship with SES in children with PAE may be due to the markedly smaller brain volumes resulting from the initial brain injury and postpartum brain development, regardless of later SES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn McLachlan
- Department of Psychology, College of Social & Applied Human Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Dongming Zhou
- Department of Zoology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Graham Little
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Carmen Rasmussen
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Pei
- Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Gail Andrew
- Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital PAE Clinic, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - James N Reynolds
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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17
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Long X, Little G, Treit S, Beaulieu C, Gong G, Lebel C. Altered brain white matter connectome in children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:1123-1133. [PMID: 32239277 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02064-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Diffuson tensor imaging (DTI) has demonstrated widespread alterations of brain white matter structure in children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), yet it remains unclear how these alterations affect the structural brain network as a whole. The present study aimed to examine changes in the DTI-based structural connectome in children and adolescents with PAE compared to unexposed controls. Participants were 121 children and adolescents with PAE (51 females) and 119 typically-developing controls (49 females) aged 5-18 years with DTI data collected at one of four research centers across Canada. Graph-theory based analysis was performed on the connectivity matrix constructed from whole-brain white matter fibers via deterministic tractography. The PAE group had significantly decreased whole-brain global efficiency, degree centrality, and participation coefficients, as well as increased shortest path length and betweenness centrality compared to unexposed controls. Individuals with PAE had decreased connectivity between the attention, somatomotor, and default mode networks compared to controls. This study demonstrates decreased structural white matter connectivity in children and adolescents with PAE at a whole-brain level, suggesting widespread alterations in how networks are connected with each other. This decreased connectivity may underlie cognitive and behavioural difficulties in children with PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Long
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, B4-513, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail, Calgary, NWAB, T3B 6A8, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Graham Little
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Sarah Treit
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Gaolang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, B4-513, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail, Calgary, NWAB, T3B 6A8, Canada.
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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18
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Treit S, Jeffery D, Beaulieu C, Emery D. Radiological Findings on Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Healthy Controls. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:455-462. [PMID: 31840819 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) describe a range of physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments stemming from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Although case studies have demonstrated striking visible brain abnormalities in humans (enlargement of the lateral ventricles, thinning or absence of the corpus callosum, etc.), few studies have systematically determined how these radiological findings generalize to the wider population of individuals living with FASD. METHODS This study examines rates of structural brain anomalies on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as determined by 2 radiologists in a retrospective blinded review of 163 controls and 164 individuals with PAE who were previously scanned as participants of past research studies. Incidental findings were categorized as normal variants, nonclinically significant incidental findings, or clinically significant incidental findings. Rates were compared between diagnostic subgroups using chi-square analysis. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the overall rate of incidental findings between groups: 75% of controls and 73% of PAE participants had no incidental findings of any kind, and only 1% of controls and 3% of PAE participants had incidental finding of clinical significance (the remaining findings were considered nonsignificant anomalies or normal variants). When the PAE group was split by diagnosis, low-lying cerebellar tonsils, polymicrogyria, and ventricular asymmetry/enlargement were all most prevalent in subjects with fetal alcohol syndrome/partial fetal alcohol syndrome. In addition, the overall rate of incidental findings was higher (41%) in participants with FAS/pFAS, compared to 25% in controls. No participants in this relatively large sample had corpus callosum agenesis. CONCLUSIONS Although advanced quantitative MRI research has uncovered a range of differences in brain structure associated with FASD, this qualitative radiological study suggests that routine clinical MRI does not reveal a consistent pattern of brain abnormalities that can be used diagnostically in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Treit
- From the, Department of Biomedical Engineering, (ST, CB), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Dean Jeffery
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, (DJ, DE), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- From the, Department of Biomedical Engineering, (ST, CB), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Derek Emery
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, (DJ, DE), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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19
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Catharine VL, Helena V, Ellen D, Guy V, Karel D, Karen C. Exploration of gray matter correlates of cognitive training benefit in adolescents with chronic traumatic brain injury. Neuroimage Clin 2019; 23:101827. [PMID: 31005776 PMCID: PMC6477162 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during adolescence has a profound effect on brain development and can result in persistent executive functioning deficits in daily life. Cognitive recovery from pediatric-TBI relies on the potential of neuroplasticity, which can be fostered by restorative training-programs. However the structural mechanisms underlying cognitive recovery in the immature brain are poorly understood. This study investigated gray matter plasticity following 2 months of cognitive training in young patients with TBI. Sixteen adolescents in the chronic stage of moderate-severe-TBI (9 male, mean age = 15y8m ± 1y7m) were enrolled in a cognitive computerized training program for 8 weeks (5 times/week, 40 min/session). Pre-and post-intervention, and 6 months after completion of the training, participants underwent a comprehensive neurocognitive test-battery and anatomical Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans. We selected 9 cortical-subcortical Regions-Of-Interest associated with Executive Functioning (EF-ROIs) and 3 control regions from the Desikan-Killiany atlas. Baseline analyses showed significant decreased gray matter density in the superior frontal gyri p = 0.033, superior parietal gyri p = 0.015 and thalamus p = 0.006 in adolescents with TBI compared to age and gender matched controls. Linear mixed model analyses of longitudinal volumetric data of the EF-ROI revealed no strong evidence of training-related changes in the group with TBI. However, compared to the change over time in the control regions between post-intervention and 6 months follow-up, the change in the EF-ROIs showed a significant difference. Exploratory analyses revealed a negative correlation between the change on the Digit Symbol Substitution test and the change in volume of the putamen (r = -0.596, p = 0.015). This preliminary study contributes to the insights of training-related plasticity mechanisms after pediatric-TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vander Linden Catharine
- Ghent University Hospital, Child Rehabilitation Centre K7, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Verhelst Helena
- Ghent University, Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Deschepper Ellen
- Ghent University, Biostatistics Unit, Department of Public Health, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Vingerhoets Guy
- Ghent University, Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Deblaere Karel
- Ghent University Hospital, Department of Neuroradiology, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Caeyenberghs Karen
- Australian Catholic University, Mary McKillop Institute for Health Research Level 5, 215 Spring Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
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20
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Brown JM, Bland R, Jonsson E, Greenshaw AJ. The Standardization of Diagnostic Criteria for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Implications for Research, Clinical Practice and Population Health. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY. REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE 2019; 64:169-176. [PMID: 29788774 PMCID: PMC6405816 DOI: 10.1177/0706743718777398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a preventable disorder caused by maternal alcohol consumption and marked by a range of physical and mental disabilities. Although recognized by the scientific and medical community as a clinical disorder, no internationally standardized diagnostic tool yet exists for FASD. METHODS AND RESULTS This review seeks to analyse the discrepancies in existing diagnostic tools for FASD, and the repercussions these differences have on research, public health, and government policy. CONCLUSIONS Disagreement on the adoption of a standardised tool is reflective of existing gaps in research on the conditions and factors that influence fetal vulnerability to damage from exposure. This discordance has led to variability in research findings, inconsistencies in government messaging, and misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses. The objective measurement of the timing and level of prenatal alcohol exposure is key to bridging these gaps; however, there is conflicting or limited evidence to support the use of existing measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine M. Brown
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Roger Bland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Egon Jonsson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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21
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Abbott CW, Rohac DJ, Bottom RT, Patadia S, Huffman KJ. Prenatal Ethanol Exposure and Neocortical Development: A Transgenerational Model of FASD. Cereb Cortex 2018; 28:2908-2921. [PMID: 29106518 PMCID: PMC6041800 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 06/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, or FASD, represent a range of adverse developmental conditions caused by prenatal ethanol exposure (PrEE) from maternal consumption of alcohol. PrEE induces neurobiological damage in the developing brain leading to cognitive-perceptual and behavioral deficits in the offspring. Alcohol-mediated alterations to epigenetic function may underlie PrEE-related brain dysfunction, with these changes potentially carried across generations to unexposed offspring. To determine the transgenerational impact of PrEE on neocortical development, we generated a mouse model of FASD and identified numerous stable phenotypes transmitted via the male germline to the unexposed third generation. These include alterations in ectopic intraneocortical connectivity, upregulation of neocortical Rzrβ and Id2 expression accompanied by both promoter hypomethylation of these genes and decreased global DNA methylation levels. DNMT expression was also suppressed in newborn PrEE cortex, providing further insight into how ethanol perturbs DNA methylation leading to altered regulation of gene transcription. These PrEE-induced, transgenerational phenotypes may be responsible for cognitive, sensorimotor, and behavioral deficits seen in humans with FASD. Thus, understanding the possible epigenetic mechanisms by which these phenotypes are generated may reveal novel targets for therapeutic intervention of FASD and lead to advances in human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Abbott
- Department of Psychology and Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave. Riverside, CA, USA
| | - David J Rohac
- Department of Psychology and Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave. Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Riley T Bottom
- Department of Psychology and Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave. Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Sahil Patadia
- Department of Psychology and Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave. Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Kelly J Huffman
- Department of Psychology and Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave. Riverside, CA, USA
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22
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Long X, Little G, Beaulieu C, Lebel C. Sensorimotor network alterations in children and youth with prenatal alcohol exposure. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:2258-2268. [PMID: 29436054 PMCID: PMC6866525 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) often have impaired sensorimotor function. While altered brain structure has been noted in sensorimotor areas, the functional brain alterations remain unclear. This study aims to investigate sensorimotor brain networks in children and youth with PAE using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). A parcellation-based network analysis was performed to identify brain networks related to hand/lower limb and face/upper limb function in 59 children and youth with PAE and 50 typically developing controls. Participants with PAE and controls had similar organization of the hand and face areas within the primary sensorimotor cortex, but participants with PAE had altered functional connectivity (FC) between the sensorimotor regions and the rest of the brain. The sensorimotor regions in the PAE group showed less connectivity to certain hubs of the default mode network and more connectivity to areas of the salience network. Overall, our results show that despite similar patterns of organization in the sensorimotor network, subjects with PAE have increased FC between this network and other brain areas, perhaps suggesting overcompensation. These alterations in the sensorimotor network lay the foundation for future studies to evaluate interventions and treatments to improve motor function in children with PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Long
- Department of Radiology, and Alberta Children's Hospital Research InstituteUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Graham Little
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Department of Radiology, and Alberta Children's Hospital Research InstituteUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
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23
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Hudziak JJ. ACEs and Pregnancy: Time to Support All Expectant Mothers. Pediatrics 2018; 141:peds.2018-0232. [PMID: 29559587 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-0232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James J Hudziak
- Division of Child Psychiatry, Vermont Center on Children, Youth, and Families, Burlington, Vermont; Robert Larner College of Medicine, The University of Vermont and Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vermont; Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry (Child), School of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri; and Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
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24
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Hendrickson TJ, Mueller BA, Sowell ER, Mattson SN, Coles CD, Kable JA, Jones KL, Boys CJ, Lee S, Lim KO, Riley EP, Wozniak JR. Two-year cortical trajectories are abnormal in children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2018; 30:123-133. [PMID: 29486453 PMCID: PMC5949095 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cortical abnormalities in prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are known, including in gyrification (LGI), thickness (CT), volume (CV), and surface area (CS). This study provides longitudinal and developmental context to the PAE cortical development literature. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Included: 58 children with PAE and 52 controls, ages 6-17 at enrollment, from four Collaborative Initiative on FASD (CIFASD) sites. Participants underwent a formal evaluation of physical anomalies and dysmorphic facial features associated with PAE. MRI data were collected on three platforms (Siemens, GE, and Philips) at four sites. Scans were spaced two years apart. Change in LGI, CT, CS, and CV were examined. PRINCIPAL OBSERVATIONS Several significant regional age-by-diagnosis linear and quadratic interaction effects in LGI, CT, and CV were found, indicating atypical developmental trajectories in PAE. No significant correlations were observed between cortical measures and IQ. CONCLUSIONS Regional differences were seen longitudinally in CT, CV, and LGI in those with PAE. The findings represent important insights into developmental trajectories and may have implications for the timing of assessments and interventions in this population. It is noteworthy that cortical metrics did not correlate with IQ, suggesting that more specific aspects of cognitive development may need to be explored to provide further context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth R Sowell
- Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, USA; University of Southern California, USA
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25
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Zhou D, Rasmussen C, Pei J, Andrew G, Reynolds JN, Beaulieu C. Preserved cortical asymmetry despite thinner cortex in children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure and associated conditions. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 39:72-88. [PMID: 28960637 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is associated with reduced overall brain volume. Although this has been reported consistently across studies, the status of cortical thickness after PAE is more variable. The cortex is asymmetric in typical controls, but it is unclear whether the left and right counter parts of the cortical gray matter are unevenly influenced in postpartum brain development after PAE. Brain MRI was acquired in a newly recruited sample of 157 participants (PAE: N = 78, 5.5-18.9 years, 40 females and controls: N = 79, 5.8-18.5 years, 44 females) across four Canadian sites in the NeuroDevNet project. The PAE group had other confounds such as psychiatric co-morbidity, different living environment, and so on, not present in the control group. In agreement with previous studies, the volumes of all brain structures were reduced in PAE compared to controls, including gray and white matter of cerebrum and cerebellum, and all deep gray matter including the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, caudate, putamen, and pallidum. The PAE group showed reductions in global and regional cortical thickness, while the pattern and degree of cortical thickness asymmetry were preserved in PAE participants with the greatest rightward asymmetry in the lateral parietal lobe and the greatest leftward asymmetry in the lateral frontal cortex. This persistent asymmetry reflects that the homologous left and right cortical regions followed typical relative developmental patterns in the PAE group despite being thinner bilaterally than controls. Hum Brain Mapp 39:72-88, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongming Zhou
- Environment and Health Research Centre, Southwest China Eco-development Academy, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Jacqueline Pei
- Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gail Andrew
- Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital FASD Clinic, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - James N Reynolds
- Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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26
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Nguyen VT, Chong S, Tieng QM, Mardon K, Galloway GJ, Kurniawan ND. Radiological studies of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in humans and animal models: An updated comprehensive review. Magn Reson Imaging 2017. [PMID: 28645698 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2017.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders encompass a wide range of birth defects in children born to mothers who consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Typical mental impairments in FASD include difficulties in life adaptation and learning and memory, deficits in attention, visuospatial skills, language and speech disabilities, mood disorders and motor disabilities. Multimodal imaging methods have enabled in vivo studies of the teratogenic effects of alcohol on the central nervous system, giving more insight into the FASD phenotype. This paper offers an up-to-date comprehensive review of radiological findings in the central nervous system in studies of prenatal alcohol exposure in both humans and translational animal models, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomography, Positron Emission Tomography, Single Photon Emission Tomography and Ultrasonography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van T Nguyen
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Suyinn Chong
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Quang M Tieng
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Karine Mardon
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Graham J Galloway
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nyoman D Kurniawan
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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27
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Treit S, Chen Z, Zhou D, Baugh L, Rasmussen C, Andrew G, Pei J, Beaulieu C. Sexual dimorphism of volume reduction but not cognitive deficit in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: A combined diffusion tensor imaging, cortical thickness and brain volume study. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2017; 15:284-297. [PMID: 28560153 PMCID: PMC5440763 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revealed abnormalities in brain volumes, cortical thickness and white matter microstructure in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD); however, no study has reported all three measures within the same cohort to assess the relative magnitude of deficits, and few studies have examined sex differences. Participants with FASD (n = 70; 30 females; 5-32 years) and healthy controls (n = 74; 35 females; 5-32 years) underwent cognitive testing and MRI to assess cortical thickness, regional brain volumes and fractional anisotropy (FA)/mean diffusivity (MD) of white matter tracts. A significant effect of group, age-by-group, or sex-by-group was found for 9/9 volumes, 7/39 cortical thickness regions, 3/9 white matter tracts, and 9/10 cognitive tests, indicating group differences that in some cases differ by age or sex. Volume reductions for several structures were larger in males than females, despite similar deficits of cognition in both sexes. Correlations between brain structure and cognitive scores were found in females of both groups, but were notably absent in males. Correlations within a given MRI modality (e.g. total brain volume and caudate volume) were prevalent in both the control and FASD groups, and were more numerous than correlations between measurement types (e.g. volumes and diffusion tensor imaging) in either cohort. This multi-modal MRI study finds widespread differences of brain structure in participants with prenatal alcohol exposure, and to a greater extent in males than females which may suggest attenuation of the expected process of sexual dimorphism of brain structure during typical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Treit
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada
| | - Zhang Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada
| | - Dongming Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada
| | - Lauren Baugh
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada
| | - Carmen Rasmussen
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada
| | - Gail Andrew
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada; FASD Diagnostic Clinic, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB T6G-0B7, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Pei
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada
| | - Christian Beaulieu
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G-2R3, Canada.
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28
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Gordon HW. Laterality of Brain Activation for Risk Factors of Addiction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 9:1-18. [PMID: 26674074 PMCID: PMC4811731 DOI: 10.2174/1874473709666151217121309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Revised: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Laterality of brain activation is reported for tests of risk factors of addiction - impulsivity and craving - but authors rarely address the potential significance of those asymmetries. Objective:
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate this laterality and discuss its relevance to cognitive and neurophysiological asymmetries associated with drug abuse vulnerability in order to provide new insights for future research in drug abuse. Method:
From published reports, brain areas of activation for two tests of response inhibition or craving for drugs of abuse were compiled from fMRI activation peaks and were tabulated for eight sections (octants) in each hemisphere. Percent asymmetries were calculated (R-L/R+L) across studies for each area. Results:
For impulsivity, most activation peaks favored the right hemisphere. Overall, the percent difference was 32% (Χ2 = 16.026; p < 0.0001) with the greater asymmetry for anterior peaks (46.8%; Χ2 = 17.329; p < 0.0001). The asymmetries for cue-induced craving were opposite, favoring the left hemisphere by 6.7% (Χ2 = 4.028; p < 0.05). The consistency of left asymmetry was found for almost all drugs. For nicotine, studies where subjects were not allowed to smoke (deprived) prior to measurement had the same left hemisphere activation but those who smoked (satiated) before the fMRI measure showed right asymmetry. Conclusion:
Brain activation studies demonstrate different left/right hemispheric contributions for impulsivity versus craving - factors related to addiction. Failure to take laterality into consideration is a missed opportunity in designing studies and gaining insight into the etiology of drug abuse and pathways for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold W Gordon
- Epidemiology Research Branch, Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research (DESPR), National Institute on Drug Abuse, The Neuroscience Center, Room 5151, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892-9593, USA.
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29
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Boschen KE, Klintsova AY. Neurotrophins in the Brain: Interaction With Alcohol Exposure During Development. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2016; 104:197-242. [PMID: 28215296 PMCID: PMC5997461 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2016.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a result of the teratogenic effects of alcohol on the developing fetus. Decades of research examining both individuals with FASDs and animal models of developmental alcohol exposure have revealed the devastating effects of alcohol on brain structure, function, behavior, and cognition. Neurotrophic factors have an important role in guiding normal brain development and cellular plasticity in the adult brain. This chapter reviews the current literature showing that alcohol exposure during the developmental period impacts neurotrophin production and proposes avenues through which alcohol exposure and neurotrophin action might interact. These areas of overlap include formation of long-term potentiation, oxidative stress processes, neuroinflammation, apoptosis and cell loss, hippocampal adult neurogenesis, dendritic morphology and spine density, vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, and behaviors related to spatial memory, anxiety, and depression. Finally, we discuss how neurotrophins have the potential to act in a compensatory manner as neuroprotective molecules that can combat the deleterious effects of in utero alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Boschen
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
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30
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Abbott CW, Kozanian OO, Kanaan J, Wendel KM, Huffman KJ. The Impact of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Neuroanatomical and Behavioral Development in Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 40:122-33. [PMID: 26727530 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In utero alcohol, or ethanol (EtOH), exposure produces developmental abnormalities in the brain of the fetus, which can result in lifelong behavioral abnormalities. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is a term used to describe a range of adverse developmental conditions caused by EtOH exposure during gestation. Children diagnosed with FASD potentially exhibit a host of phenotypes including growth retardation, facial dysmorphology, central nervous system anomalies, abnormal behavior, and cognitive deficits. Previous research suggests that abnormal gene expression and circuitry in the neocortex may underlie reported disabilities of learning, memory, and behavior resulting from early exposure to alcohol (J Neurosci, 33, 2013, 18893). METHODS Here, we utilize a mouse model of FASD to examine effects of prenatal EtOH exposure (PrEE), on brain anatomy in newborn (postnatal day [P]0), weanling (P20), and early adult (P50) mice. We correlate abnormal cortical and subcortical anatomy with atypical behavior in adult P50 PrEE mice. In this model, experimental dams self-administered a 25% EtOH solution throughout gestation (gestational days 0 to 19, day of birth), generating the exposure to the offspring. RESULTS Results from these experiments reveal long-term alterations to cortical anatomy, including atypical developmental cortical thinning, and abnormal subcortical development as a result of in utero EtOH exposure. Furthermore, offspring exposed to EtOH during the prenatal period performed poorly on behavioral tasks measuring sensorimotor integration and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Insight from this study will help provide new information on developmental trajectories of PrEE and the biological etiologies of abnormal behavior in people diagnosed with FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Abbott
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Olga O Kozanian
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Joseph Kanaan
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Kara M Wendel
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Kelly J Huffman
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
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31
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Lewis SM, Vydrová RR, Leuthold AC, Georgopoulos AP. Cortical miscommunication after prenatal exposure to alcohol. Exp Brain Res 2016; 234:3347-3353. [PMID: 27491551 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4732-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We report on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on resting-state brain activity as measured by magnetoencephalography (MEG). We studied 37 subjects diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in one of three categories: fetal alcohol syndrome, partial fetal alcohol syndrome, and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder. For each subject, the MEG signal was recorded for 60 s during rest while subjects lay supine. Using time series analysis, we calculated the synchronous neural interactions for all pair-wise combinations of 248 MEG sensors resulting in 30,628 partial correlations for each subject. We found significant differences from control subjects in 6.19 % of the partial zero-lag crosscorrelations (synchronous neural interactions; Georgopoulos et al. in J Neural Eng 4:349-355, 2007), with these differences localized in the right posterior frontal, right parietal, and left parietal/posterior frontal regions. These results show that MEG can detect functional brain differences in the individuals affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Furthermore, these differences may serve as a biomarker for future studies linking symptoms and signs to specific brain areas. This may lead to new insights into the neuropathology of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Lewis
- Brain Sciences Center (11B), Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA. .,Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Rosa R Vydrová
- Brain Sciences Center (11B), Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.,Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Arthur C Leuthold
- Brain Sciences Center (11B), Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Apostolos P Georgopoulos
- Brain Sciences Center (11B), Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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Chang L, Douet V, Bloss C, Lee K, Pritchett A, Jernigan TL, Akshoomoff N, Murray SS, Frazier J, Kennedy DN, Amaral DG, Gruen J, Kaufmann WE, Casey BJ, Sowell E, Ernst T. Gray matter maturation and cognition in children with different APOE ε genotypes. Neurology 2016; 87:585-94. [PMID: 27412137 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000002939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aims of the current study were to determine whether children with the 6 different APOE ε genotypes show differences in gray matter maturation, particularly for those with ε4 and ε2 alleles, which are associated with poorer outcomes in many neurologic disorders. METHODS A total of 1,187 healthy children (aged 3-20 years, 52.1% boys, 47.9% girls) with acceptable data from the cross-sectional Pediatric Imaging Neurocognition and Genetics Study were evaluated for the effects of 6 APOE ε genotypes on macroscopic and microscopic cortical and subcortical gray matter structures (measured with 3-tesla MRI and FreeSurfer for automated morphometry) and on cognition (NIH Toolbox). RESULTS Among APOE ε4 carriers, age-related changes in brain structures and cognition varied depending on genotype, with the smallest hippocampi in ε2ε4 children, the lowest hippocampal fractional anisotropy in younger ε4ε4 children, the largest medial orbitofrontal cortical areas in ε3ε4 children, and age-dependent thinning of the entorhinal cortex in ε4ε4 children. Younger ε4ε4 children had the lowest scores on executive function and working memory, while younger ε2ε4 children performed worse on attention tasks. Larger parietal gyri in the younger ε2ε4 children, and thinner temporal and cingulate isthmus cortices or smaller hippocampi in the younger ε4ε4 children, predicted poorer performance on attention or working memory. CONCLUSIONS Our findings validated and extended prior smaller studies that showed altered brain development in APOE ε4-carrier children. The ε4ε4 and ε2ε4 genotypes may negatively influence brain development and brain aging at the extremes of age. Studying APOE ε polymorphisms in young children may provide the earliest indicators for individuals who might benefit from early interventions or preventive measures for future brain injuries and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Chang
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA.
| | - Vanessa Douet
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Cinnamon Bloss
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Kristin Lee
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Alexandra Pritchett
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Terry L Jernigan
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Natacha Akshoomoff
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Sarah S Murray
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jean Frazier
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - David N Kennedy
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - David G Amaral
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jeffrey Gruen
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Walter E Kaufmann
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - B J Casey
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Elizabeth Sowell
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Thomas Ernst
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
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Weinberg J. Commentary: Linking Cortical and Subcortical Developmental Trajectories to Behavioral Deficits in a Mouse Model of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 40:448-50. [PMID: 26849677 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia
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Infante MA, Moore EM, Bischoff-Grethe A, Migliorini R, Mattson SN, Riley EP. Atypical cortical gyrification in adolescents with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. Brain Res 2015; 1624:446-454. [PMID: 26275919 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 08/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure can adversely affect brain development, although little is known about the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on gyrification. Gyrification reflects cortical folding complexity and is a process by which the surface of the brain creates sulci and gyri. Prior studies have shown that prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with reduced gyrification in childhood, but no studies have examined adolescents. Subjects (12-16 years) comprised two age-equivalent groups: 30 adolescents with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (AE) and 19 non-exposed controls (CON). A T1-weighted image was obtained for all participants. Local gyrification index (LGI) was estimated using FreeSurfer. General linear models were used to determine between group differences in LGI controlling for age and sex. Age-by-group interactions were also investigated while controlling for sex. The AE group displayed reduced LGI relative to CON in the bilateral superior parietal region, right postcentral region, and left precentral and lateral occipital regions (ps<.001). Significant age-by-group interactions were observed in the right precentral and lateral occipital regions, and in the left pars opercularis and inferior parietal regions (ps<.01). The AE group showed age-related reductions in gyrification in all regions whereas the CON group showed increased gyrification with age in the lateral occipital region only. While cross-sectional, the age-related reduction in gyrification observed in the AE group suggests alterations in cortical development throughout adolescence and provides further insight into the pathophysiology and brain maturation of adolescents prenatally exposed to alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alejandra Infante
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA.
| | - Eileen M Moore
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | | | - Robyn Migliorini
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA
| | - Edward P Riley
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA
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Robertson FC, Narr KL, Molteno CD, Jacobson JL, Jacobson SW, Meintjes EM. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure is Associated with Regionally Thinner Cortex During the Preadolescent Period. Cereb Cortex 2015; 26:3083-95. [PMID: 26088967 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhv131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) may exhibit craniofacial dysmorphology, neurobehavioral deficits, and reduced brain volume. Studies of cortical thickness in FASD have yielded contradictory findings, with 3 reporting thicker cerebral cortex in frontal and temporal brain regions and 2 showing thinner cortex across multiple regions. All 5 studies included subjects spanning a broad age range, and none have examined continuous measures of prenatal alcohol exposure. We investigated the relation of extent of in utero alcohol exposure to cortical thickness in 78 preadolescent children with FASD and controls within a narrow age range. A whole-brain analysis using FreeSurfer revealed no significant clusters where cortical thickness differed by FASD diagnostic group. However, alcohol dose/occasion during pregnancy was inversely related to cortical thickness in 3 regions-right cuneus/pericalcarine/superior parietal lobe, fusiform/lingual gyrus, and supramarginal/postcentral gyrus. The effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on IQ was mediated by cortical thickness in the right occipitotemporal region. It is noteworthy that a continuous measure of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy was more sensitive than FASD diagnosis and that the effect on cortical thickness was most evident in relation to a measure of maternal binge drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances C Robertson
- MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences
| | - Katherine L Narr
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher D Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ernesta M Meintjes
- MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences
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Accelerated longitudinal cortical thinning in adolescence. Neuroimage 2015; 104:138-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
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