BACKGROUND: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is associated with a variety of structural abnormalities in the brain, including several within the para-limbic system. Children with PAE have higher rates of internalizing disorders, including depression and anxiety, which may be related to underlying limbic system anomalies. METHODS: Children aged 8 to 16 with PAE (n = 41) or without PAE (n = 36) underwent an magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and parents completed behavioral questionnaires about their children. Semi-automated procedures (FreeSurfer) were used to derive para-limbic volumes from T1-weighted anatomical images. RESULTS: There were significant group differences (PAE vs. nonexposed controls) in the caudate, hippocampus, and the putamen; children with PAE had smaller volumes in these regions even after controlling for total intracranial volume. A trend-level association was seen between caudate volume and internalizing symptoms in children with PAE; smaller caudate volumes (presumably reflecting less optimal neurodevelopment) were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms in these children. CONCLUSIONS: Caudate structure may be disproportionately affected by PAE and may be associated with the later development of internalizing symptoms in those affected by PAE.
BACKGROUND: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is associated with a variety of structural abnormalities in the brain, including several within the para-limbic system. Children with PAE have higher rates of internalizing disorders, including depression and anxiety, which may be related to underlying limbic system anomalies. METHODS:Children aged 8 to 16 with PAE (n = 41) or without PAE (n = 36) underwent an magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and parents completed behavioral questionnaires about their children. Semi-automated procedures (FreeSurfer) were used to derive para-limbic volumes from T1-weighted anatomical images. RESULTS: There were significant group differences (PAE vs. nonexposed controls) in the caudate, hippocampus, and the putamen; children with PAE had smaller volumes in these regions even after controlling for total intracranial volume. A trend-level association was seen between caudate volume and internalizing symptoms in children with PAE; smaller caudate volumes (presumably reflecting less optimal neurodevelopment) were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms in these children. CONCLUSIONS: Caudate structure may be disproportionately affected by PAE and may be associated with the later development of internalizing symptoms in those affected by PAE.
Authors: Mary J O'Connor; Bhavik Shah; Shannon Whaley; Pegeen Cronin; Brent Gunderson; John Graham Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2002-11 Impact factor: 3.829
Authors: Susanna L Fryer; Susan F Tapert; Sarah N Mattson; Martin P Paulus; Andrea D Spadoni; Edward P Riley Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2007-06-09 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: L Schmaal; D J Veltman; T G M van Erp; P G Sämann; T Frodl; N Jahanshad; E Loehrer; H Tiemeier; A Hofman; W J Niessen; M W Vernooij; M A Ikram; K Wittfeld; H J Grabe; A Block; K Hegenscheid; H Völzke; D Hoehn; M Czisch; J Lagopoulos; S N Hatton; I B Hickie; R Goya-Maldonado; B Krämer; O Gruber; B Couvy-Duchesne; M E Rentería; L T Strike; N T Mills; G I de Zubicaray; K L McMahon; S E Medland; N G Martin; N A Gillespie; M J Wright; G B Hall; G M MacQueen; E M Frey; A Carballedo; L S van Velzen; M J van Tol; N J van der Wee; I M Veer; H Walter; K Schnell; E Schramm; C Normann; D Schoepf; C Konrad; B Zurowski; T Nickson; A M McIntosh; M Papmeyer; H C Whalley; J E Sussmann; B R Godlewska; P J Cowen; F H Fischer; M Rose; B W J H Penninx; P M Thompson; D P Hibar Journal: Mol Psychiatry Date: 2015-06-30 Impact factor: 15.992
Authors: Arash Aghamohammadi-Sereshki; Carly A McMorris; W Ben Gibbard; Christina Tortorelli; G Bruce Pike; Catherine Lebel Journal: J Psychiatry Neurosci Date: 2022-07-26 Impact factor: 5.699
Authors: Victoria M Niedzwiedz-Massey; James C Douglas; Tonya Rafferty; Patricia A Wight; Cynthia J M Kane; Paul D Drew Journal: Neurotoxicol Teratol Date: 2021-07-10 Impact factor: 4.071
Authors: Erik de Water; Madeline N Rockhold; Donovan J Roediger; Alyssa M Krueger; Bryon A Mueller; Christopher J Boys; Mariah J Schumacher; Sarah N Mattson; Kenneth L Jones; Kelvin O Lim; Jeffrey R Wozniak Journal: Brain Res Date: 2021-02-20 Impact factor: 3.610
Authors: Abigail M Ernst; Blake A Gimbel; Erik de Water; Judith K Eckerle; Joshua P Radke; Michael K Georgieff; Jeffrey R Wozniak Journal: Nutrients Date: 2022-02-06 Impact factor: 5.717