Altered markers of brain metabolism and excitability are associated with executive functioning in young children exposed to alcohol in utero.

ABSTRACT: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is the leading known cause of birth defects and cognitive disabilities, with impacts on brain development and executive functioning. Abnormalities in structural and functional brain features are well-documented in children with PAE, but the effects of PAE on brain metabolism in children have received less attention. Levels of brain metabolites can be measured non-invasively using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Here, we present the first study of PAE-related brain metabolite differences in early childhood (ages 3-8 years) and their associations with cognitive performance, including executive functioning (EF) and pre-reading skills. We measured metabolites in two cohorts of children with PAE and unexposed children using MRS in the anterior cingulate co

SUBMITTER: Perdue MV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11582302 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature