Association of Childhood Lead Exposure With MRI Measurements of Structural Brain Integrity in Midlife.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Childhood lead exposure has been linked to disrupted brain development, but long-term consequences for structural brain integrity are unknown.

Objective

To test the hypothesis that childhood lead exposure is associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of lower structural integrity of the brain in midlife.

Design, setting, and participants

The Dunedin Study followed a population-representative 1972-1973 birth cohort in New Zealand (N = 564 analytic sample) to age 45 years (until April 2019).

Exposures

Childhood blood lead levels measured at age 11 years.

Main outcomes and measures

Structural brain integrity at age 45 years assessed via MRI (primary outcomes): gray matter (cortical thickness, surface area, hippocampal volume),

SUBMITTER: Reuben A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7672511 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature