Brain Structural Alterations in Left-Behind Children: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

ABSTRACT: Parental migration has caused millions of children left behind, especially in China and India. Left-behind children (LBC) have a high risk of mental disorders and may present negative life outcomes in the future. However, little is known whether there are cerebral structural alterations in LBC in relative to those with parents. This study is to explore the effect of parental migration on brain maturation by comparing gray matter volume (GMV) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of LBC with well-matched non-LBC. Thirty-eight LBC (21 boys, age = 9.60 ± 1.8 years) and 30 non-LBC (19 boys, age = 10.00 ± 1.95 years) were recruited and underwent brain scans in 3.0 T MR. Intelligence quotient and other factors including family income, guardians' educational level and separation time were also acquired.

SUBMITTER: Fu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6517480 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature