MR Assessment of Brain Function Altered by Lead Exposure

NCT00283647 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 11261-CP-004
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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, 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 exist at a neural level. Our proposal seeks to relate childhood environmental lead exposure at various levels and stages of development with detriments in brain structure and neurochemical functioning 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 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 cohort of approximately 240 subjects with detailed histories of exposure and behavioral outcomes in lead exposed children monitored for approximately 20 years. A pilot study examining language, working memory and attention in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will also be performed to better understand the functional and behavioral deficits.

Conditions

Lead Exposure

Keywords

lead exposure; magnetic resonance imaging; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; functional magnetic resonance; brain development

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 26 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Participant in the Cincinnati Lead Study.
• Age range of at least 18 years with an upper limit of 25 years.
• Negative history for metabolic, neurologic, cardiac disease.
• Negative family history for metabolic or neurologic disease (in first-degree relatives only) to include genetic disorders.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of an implant such as a hearing aid, cochlear implant, pacemaker or neuro-stimulator containing electrical circuitry or generating electrical signals or having moving metal parts.
• Presence of metal implants, orthopedic pins or plates above the level of the waist.
• Presence of orthodontic braces.
• Subjects who demonstrate or express noticeable anxiety and/or cannot readily communicate with personnel operating the MR equipment will be excluded.
• Pregnancy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS): lead

Study Sites (1)

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Dept. of Radiology and the Imaging Research Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Kim M Cecil, PhD

  Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: NIH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 27, 2006
• First Posted: January 30, 2006
• Study Start: October 1, 2002
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2006
• Study Completion: September 1, 2006
• Last Updated: April 14, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-04

Locations

US (1)