MR assessment of brain function altered by lead exposure

描述(由申请人提供) 在孕期、婴儿期和儿童期接触铅会增加 个人学习成绩受损的可能性，冲动增加， 攻击性和犯罪行为。因暴露在空气中而引起的疾病 环境神经毒物是相互作用的复杂网络 遗传、神经化学、生化、环境和社会因素 在儿童发育的关键时期对儿童产生影响。迄今为止，研究 在人类发育神经毒理学领域，主要关注全球 感觉运动发育和认知的测量。然而，人类研究 阐明发育和行为障碍的生物学基础 由于环境毒物暴露不足。虽然粗大的大脑 结构看起来正常，潜在的问题必须存在于神经层面。 该项目试图将儿童环境中的铅暴露与 磁学评价脑结构、神经化学和功能的变化 磁共振成像(MRI)和磁共振波谱(MRS)。大脑皮层 而皮质下的脑体积将用高分辨率磁共振成像来确定。 神经元和神经胶质细胞标记物(N-乙酰天冬氨酸、肌酸、胆碱和 肌醇)将使用质子磁共振波谱进行测量。 化学指标也将与来自 辛辛那提铅研究(CLS)的年轻成年参与者。这些 参与者代表了一个独特而理想的研究队列，大约有240人 有详细铅暴露史和行为结果的受试者 受影响的儿童被监测了大约20年。随着这群人进入 青春期，儿童时期接触铅与反社会之间的联系 行为正在涌现。而MRI和MRS提供了结构和代谢 与铅暴露相关的措施，对行为措施的意义是 有限的。一项初步研究(n=40)，检查语言、工作记忆和 注意与功能磁共振成像(FMRI)相结合 也将执行，以更好地调查功能和 行为缺陷。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) Exposure to lead during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood increases the individual likelihood of impaired school performance, increased impulsiveness, aggression, and delinquent behavior. Disorders that result from exposure to environmental neurotoxicants are a complex web of interactions between genetic, neurochemical, biochemical, environmental and social factors that influence children during critical periods of development. To date, research in the area of human developmental neurotoxicology focuses primarily on global measures of sensory-motor development and cognition. However, human studies elucidating the biological basis for developmental and behavioral disorders due to environmental toxicant exposure are lacking. Although gross brain structure appears normal, underlying problems must exist at a neural level. This project seeks to correlate childhood environmental lead exposure with changes in brain structure, neurochemistry and function assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Cortical and subcortical brain volumes will be determined with high resolution MRI. Neuronal and glial cell markers (N-acetyl aspartate, creatine, cholines and myo-inositol) will be measured using proton MRS. These structural and chemical measures will also be correlated with behavioral measures from the young adult participants of the Cincinnati Lead Study (CLS). These participants represent a unique and ideal study cohort of approximately 240 subjects with detailed histories of exposure and behavioral outcomes in lead exposed children monitored for approximately 20 years. As this cohort enters young adulthood, associations between childhood lead exposure and antisocial behaviors are emerging. While MRI and MRS provide structural and metabolic measures relevant to lead exposure, the significance to behavioral measures is limited. A pilot study (n=40) examining language, working memory and attention in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will also be performed to better investigate the correlation of functional and behavioral deficits.