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Lead exposure is associated with functional and microstructural changes in the healthy human brain
Hikaru Takeuchi1, Yasuyuki Taki2,3,4, Rui Nouchi5,6,7
1Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. takehi@idac.tohoku.ac.jp.
Communications Biology
|July 27, 2021
Summary
This study reveals that higher hair lead levels in young adults are linked to subtle changes in brain activity and white matter microstructure. These lead exposures also correlate with lower cognitive performance and increased impulsivity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Lead is a known neurotoxin affecting multiple organs throughout life.
- Previous research has not explored the link between body lead burden and brain microstructure or activity during cognitive tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body lead levels and brain structural/functional properties in young adults.
- To examine the relationship between lead exposure and cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
- Analyzed cognitive measures, including psychometric intelligence, impulsivity, novelty seeking, and extraversion.
- Included data from 920 typically developing young adults.
Main Results:
- Higher hair lead levels correlated with increased working memory activity in specific brain regions.
- Lead exposure was associated with altered white matter microstructure, including lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and altered mean diffusivity (MD) in key pathways.
- Lead levels showed weak but significant associations with poorer performance on higher-order cognitive tests and increased impulsivity.
Conclusions:
- Daily lead exposure, even at low levels, can subtly affect brain excitability and microstructure, particularly within the dopaminergic system.
- Findings highlight the pervasive impact of lead on brain function and cognition in young adults.
