Dataset Information

Sexually dimorphic associations between prenatal blood lead exposure and performance on a behavioral testing battery in children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Associations between lead (Pb) and neurodevelopment have been studied widely in the context of global measures of cognitive function, such as IQ. Operant test batteries consist of behavioral tasks that can be used to target discrete cognitive and behavioral mechanisms, which contribute to global cognitive faculties.

Objectives

The goals of this study were to identify Pb-associated deficits in cognitive development and determine the underlying mechanisms involved, utilizing an operant test battery. We evaluated effect modification by child sex.

Methods

This study utilized data from a prospective cohort in Mexico City. We included 549 participants aged 6-to-7 years with complete data on prenatal blood Pb measurements, Operant Test Battery (OTB) tasks, and demographic covariates. General linear models were used to examine the association of Pb levels at each prenatal timepoint and OTB performance. Effect modification by child sex was evaluated using 2-way interaction terms.

Results

In three of the operant tasks, we observed that higher late-pregnancy blood Pb concentrations were associated with greater response latencies. In the temporal processing task, we observed that higher late-pregnancy Pb exposure was associated with worse overall task performance. Further, in two operant tasks, the effects of Pb were dependent on the sex of the child, such that the effects of Pb were more pronounced in females in the condition position responding task, but stronger in males in the temporal processing task.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that prenatal Pb concentrations yield broad dysregulation of executive functions, which can be attributed to dysregulation of temporal processing. In addition, we observed sex differences in two operant tasks suggesting that some Pb effects on neurocognitive function may be sexually dimorphic.

SUBMITTER: Merced-Nieves FM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8957713 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Sexually dimorphic associations between prenatal blood lead exposure and performance on a behavioral testing battery in children.

Merced-Nieves Francheska M FM Chelonis John J Pantic Ivan I Schnass Lourdes L Téllez-Rojo Martha M MM Braun Joseph M JM Paule Merle G MG Wright Rosalind J RJ Wright Robert O RO Curtin Paul P

Neurotoxicology and teratology 20220131

<h4>Background</h4>Associations between lead (Pb) and neurodevelopment have been studied widely in the context of global measures of cognitive function, such as IQ. Operant test batteries consist of behavioral tasks that can be used to target discrete cognitive and behavioral mechanisms, which contribute to global cognitive faculties.<h4>Objectives</h4>The goals of this study were to identify Pb-associated deficits in cognitive development and determine the underlying mechanisms involved, utiliz ...[more]

PMID: 35108597

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Project description:BackgroundLead is an established neurotoxicant and early life exposure to lead is associated with detrimental impacts on IQ and several neurobehavioral domains. Less is known, however, about effects of prenatal lead exposure below 5 μg/dL on executive function and on social, emotional and self-regulatory behaviors in childhood.ObjectivesTo examine the association between prenatal lead exposure and childhood executive function and social, emotional and self-regulatory behaviors.MethodsWe included 1006 mother-child pairs from the Project Viva prospective pre-birth cohort. We measured prenatal maternal lead in second-trimester erythrocytes. In mid-childhood (median 7.7 years), parents and teachers rated executive function related behaviors using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and behavioral difficulties using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We used multivariable linear regression models adjusted for maternal, paternal, and child characteristics and metal co-exposures.ResultsMean maternal erythrocyte lead concentration was 1.2 μg/dL (interquartile range [IQR] 0.8-1.5 μg /dL), equivalent to approximately 0.4 μg/dL in whole blood. In adjusted models, associations with parent and teacher-rated scales were largely null, although effect estimates were consistently positive, suggesting worse scores with increasing lead levels. For an IQR increase in lead, BRIEF Global Executive Composite (GEC) was 0.73 (95% CI: -0.06, 1.52) points higher for parent-rated scores and 0.42 (95% CI: -0.39, 1.23) points higher for teacher-rated scores. Associations were strongest for parent-rated BRIEF plan/organize (β = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.12, 1.59) and shift (β = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.01, 1.75) subscales, as well as the SDQ emotional problems subscale (β = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.33).DiscussionIn this cohort with lead levels commonly experienced by U.S. women, there were few statistically significant associations with childhood executive function and behavior. However, there was a trend of worse neurobehavioral scores with increasing prenatal lead concentrations, in particular for childhood emotional problems and capacity to plan/organize and shift. Our results highlight the importance of continuing efforts to eliminate lead exposure in the general population.

Dataset Information

Sexually dimorphic associations between prenatal blood lead exposure and performance on a behavioral testing battery in children.

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Sexually dimorphic associations between prenatal blood lead exposure and performance on a behavioral testing battery in children.

Similar Datasets

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