NEURODEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS OF FETAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。我们将使用磁共振成像（MRI）和认知测试来寻找胎儿酒精暴露（FAE）儿童的大脑异常。我们将使用弥散张量成像（DTI），这是一种较新的成像技术，可以详细研究大脑中的白质。白质对于大脑不同部分之间的交流尤为重要，它的破坏会导致许多认知障碍。Lim博士的研究小组在一系列临床研究中使用了DTI，并证明了正常衰老、精神分裂症和酗酒患者的白质发生了改变。这种有前景的方法尚未应用于胎儿酒精综合征（FAS）或FAE的脑异常研究。我们还将在本研究中使用临床神经心理学评估的数据。参与这项研究的患者将被要求允许研究人员使用收集的神经认知数据，作为他们在胎儿酒精综合征诊所评估的一部分。这些数据将包括患者的智力功能、语言技能、注意力、执行功能、记忆力和运动技能等信息

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. We will use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and cognitive tests to look for brain abnormalities in children with Fetal Alcohol Exposure (FAE). We will use Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), a newer imaging technique which allows for the detailed study of white matter in the brain. White matter is particularly important for communication among different parts of the brain and its disruption leads to numerous cognitive impairments. Dr. Lim's group has used DTI in a series of clinical research studies and have demonstrated alterations in white matter in normal aging, schizophrenia and alcoholism. This promising method has not yet been applied to the study of brain abnormality in either FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) or FAE. We will also use data from clinical neuropsychological assessments in this study. Patients who participate in the study will be asked to allow the researchers to use the neurocognitive data collected as part of their evaluation in the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Clinic. This data will include information about the patient's intellectual functioning, language skills, attention, executive functioning, memory, and motor skills