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Published on: September 12, 2011
White matter characteristics and cognition in prenatally opiate- and polysubstance-exposed children: a diffusion
K B Walhovd1, L T Westlye, V Moe
1Department of Psychology, Center for the Study of Human Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. k.b.walhovd@psykologi.uio.no
Insights
Prenatal substance exposure is linked to lower white matter integrity (FA) in key brain areas. These changes in fractional anisotropy (FA), diffusion anisotropy (DA), and diffusion rate (DR) correlate with cognitive function in children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Radiology
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to opiates and other substances can impact brain development.
- Understanding white matter (WM) alterations is crucial for assessing long-term effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter (WM) characteristics using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in children with prenatal substance exposure.
- To identify group differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), diffusion anisotropy (DA), and diffusion rate (DR).
- To correlate these WM measures with cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were employed.
- 14 prenatally substance-exposed and 14 control children (ages 8.6-13.9) participated.
- FA, DA, and DR were analyzed within identified clusters of significant group differences and correlated with cognitive scores.
Main Results:
- Ten clusters showed significantly lower FA in substance-exposed children, primarily in central, posterior, and inferior brain regions.
- Lower FA was observed in areas of early myelination, suggesting vulnerability.
- FA and DA positively correlated with cognitive function, while DR showed a negative correlation.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal substance exposure is associated with reduced white matter integrity (FA) in specific, early-myelinating brain regions.
- These WM alterations may be particularly sensitive to prenatal drug exposure.
- Fractional anisotropy (FA) and diffusion rate (DR) show a moderate relationship with cognitive outcomes.
Background And Purpose:
Prenatal drug exposure may influence the developing brain. Our aim was to study WM characteristics with DTI in children with prenatal opiate and polysubstance exposure and in controls. We assessed whether group differences in FA, DA, and DR could be found and related to cognitive function.
Materials And Methods:
The study was approved by a committee for medical research ethics. Parents signed an informed consent; children gave spoken consent. Our sample included 14 prenatally substance-exposed adopted children (5 girls; age range, 8.6-13.9 years; mean, 11.3 +/- 1.7 years) and 14 control children (7 girls; age range, 9.0-10.2 years; mean, 9.8 +/- 0.3 years). Tract-based spatial statistics were used to define a common WM skeleton for the sample, and FA was compared between groups throughout the skeleton, controlling for age and sex. Clusters of significant group differences >or=100 voxels (P <. 05) were identified. FA, DA, and DR within clusters were correlated with cognitive function.
Results:
Ten clusters of FA group differences, mostly in central, posterior, and inferior parts of the brain, were identified (P <. 05), showing lower FA in substance-exposed children. FA and DA correlated positively and DR, negatively with cognitive function across groups.
Conclusions:
Prenatally substance-exposed children exhibited lower FA in restricted areas of WM, mostly relatively central, inferior, and posterior, where myelination occurs early in development. Myelin in these areas may be particularly vulnerable to prenatal substance exposure. FA and DR related moderately to cognitive function. Potential confounding factors existed and were considered.
