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Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Brain Function Altered by Lead Exposure
EPA Grant Number: R829389C005Subproject: this is subproject number 005 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829389
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: CECEHDPR - University of Cincinnati Center for the Study of Prevalent Neurotoxicants in Children
Center Director: Lanphear, Bruce
Title: Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Brain Function Altered by Lead Exposure
Investigators: Lanphear, Bruce , Cecil, Kim , Dietrich, Kim , Holland, Scott , Hornung, Richard , Ris, Douglas
Institution: Children Hospital of Cincinnati , University of Cincinnati
EPA Project Officer: Fields, Nigel
Project Period: November 1, 2001 through October 31, 2006
RFA: Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research (2001)
Research Category: Children's Health , Health Effects
Description:
Objective:The objective of this research project is to assess the effects of lead exposure on brain function.
Hyphothesis 1. Childhood exposure to lead disrupts neuronal circuitry, resulting in changes in brain structure and metabolism as measured by magnetic resonance (MR) methods.
Hypothesis 2. Delinquent behavior and antisocial outcomes (e.g., crime, violence, drug abuse) associated with childhood lead exposure correlate with differences in quantitative MR measures of brain structure and metabolism.
Specific Aims
We will use advanced in vivo MR methods in approximately 150 subjects from the Cincinnati Lead Study (CLS) to test these hypotheses according to the following specific aims:
Specific Aim 1. We will use localized proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) to measure metabolite concentrations of N-acetyl aspartate, creatine, choline, and myo-inositol in young adults with lead exposure history to: (1) determine if metabolite concentrations are related to levels of exposure, and (2) evaluate if metabolite concentrations are related to measures of anti-social outcome.
Specific Aim 2. We will use volumetric MR imaging (MRI) to measure total brain volume and volumes of cortical gray matter, white matter, and substructures within the basal ganglia in young adults with lead exposure history to: (1) determine whether structural volumes are related to levels of exposure, and (2) evaluate if structural volumes are related to measures of antisocial outcome.
Specific Aim 3. We will compare the results of the MR measures with the cognitive, behavioral, and social assessments defined in the companion project (i.e., R829389C004) to determine the significance of individual and collective measures for assessing the brain-behavior relationships.
Pilot Study Sub-Group of the Cincinnati Lead Study
Specific Aim 4. We will use functional MRI to measure levels of brain activation during semantic language tests, working memory, and attention tests in 40 young adults with a childhood history of lead exposure. We will recruit two groups of subjects from the CLS based on average childhood blood lead levels (high group > 20 μg/dL; low group < 10 μg/dL) and subdivide each group for members at the top 75th percentile and bottom 25th percentile for behavioral events to: (1) determine correlation between brain activation and levels of lead exposure, and (2) evaluate correlation of brain activation and measures of antisocial outcome.
Supplemental Keywords:toxicology, ADHD, behavioral assessment, behavioral deficit, genetic susceptibility, pesticides, biomarkers, environmental agents, exposure, exposure assessment, hearing loss, lead, meconium, neurotoxicity, pesticide exposure, risk assessment, toxicants, lead-based paint, lead hazard control,
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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, Toxicology, Risk Assessment, Biology, Risk Assessments, Health Risk Assessment, Chemistry, Children's Health, exposure assessment, toxicity, lead, adult antisocial outcome, magentic resonance, biological markers, children, biomarker, behavioral deficits, behavioral assessment
Progress and Final Reports:
2003 Progress Report
2004 Progress Report
2005 Progress Report
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R829389 CECEHDPR - University of Cincinnati Center for the Study of Prevalent Neurotoxicants in Children
Subprojects under this Center:
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829389C001 Neurobehavioral Effects of Prevalent Toxicants in Children
R829389C002 Validation of Meconium Markers of Fetal Neurotoxicant Exposures
R829389C003 Community-Based Research Project Identifying Residential Hazards Using Home Test Kits
R829389C004 Early Exposure to Lead and Adult Antisocial Outcome
R829389C005 Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Brain Function Altered by Lead Exposure