MR assessment of brain function altered by lead exposure

描述（由申请人提供） 在怀孕、婴儿期和儿童期接触铅会增加 个人的可能性受损的学校表现，增加冲动， 攻击性和犯罪行为由于暴露于 环境神经毒物是一个复杂的相互作用网络， 遗传、神经化学、生物化学、环境和社会因素， 在儿童发展的关键时期影响他们。迄今为止，研究 在人类发育神经毒理学领域， 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 由于环境有毒物质暴露而缺乏。虽然大脑 结构看起来正常，潜在的问题必须存在于神经层面。 该项目旨在将儿童环境铅暴露与 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）。皮质 皮质下脑体积将用高分辨率MRI确定。 神经元和神经胶质细胞标志物（N-乙酰天冬氨酸、肌酸、胆碱和 肌醇）将使用质子MRS测量。 化学措施也将与行为措施相关， 辛辛那提铅研究（CLS）的年轻成人参与者。这些 参与者代表了一个独特而理想的研究队列，约240名 有详细铅暴露史和铅行为结果的受试者 接触过的儿童被监测了大约20年。当这群人进入 青年期，儿童期铅暴露与反社会行为之间的关联 行为正在出现。虽然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 有限公司一项初步研究（n=40）检查语言，工作记忆和 注意力与功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）相结合 也将进行更好地研究功能和 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.