Functional connectivity of the attention networks is altered and relates to neuropsychological outcomes in children with prenatal alcohol exposure

Ware, Ashley L.; Long, Xiangu; Lebel, Catherine

doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2021.100951

Cited by 15 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Cross-sectional studies have documented a wide range of global neurological abnormalities linked to PAE (e.g., reduced total brain volume and/or reduced cerebral or cerebellar volumes at the group level), as well as regional structural abnormalities (e.g., corpus callosum shape distortions/thinning, gray and white matter abnormalities in frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes; volumetric reductions in the hippocampus, basal ganglia, thalamus; for comprehensive reviews, see Lebel et al [ 39 ] and Moore et al [ 40 ]). Recent studies using longitudinal designs have revealed differences in both gray and white matter developmental trajectories [ 41 , 42 , 43 ], abnormal cortical folding (i.e., gyrification; [ 44 , 45 ]), impaired functional connectivity [ 46 , 47 ], and altered brain–behavior relationships [ 43 , 48 ]. Importantly, these abnormalities are linked to the timing, frequency, and amount of alcohol exposure, genetics, and other prenatal and postnatal factors [ 49 ].…”

Section: Alcohol’s Effects On the Developing Brain And Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Attention and executive function deficits are hallmark cognitive features of PAE [ 50 , 57 ]. Specific deficits have been reported in visual attention and aspects of shifting/orienting attention [ 46 ]. Executive function is often globally impaired with specific deficits in domains of set shifting/flexibility, concept formation/problem solving, planning, working memory, and inhibitory control, particularly on tasks involving complex information processing [ 50 , 58 ].…”

Section: Alcohol’s Effects On the Developing Brain And Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both volumetric and microstructural abnormalities in white matter pathways have been shown to correlate with neurocognitive performance in domains such as processing speed [ 91 ], working memory [ 92 ], language and reading [ 42 ], and mathematics [ 93 ] in individuals with PAE. Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques have also found significant alterations in functional connectivity in FASD thought to reflect underlying white matter dysfunction [ 46 , 94 , 95 ].…”

Section: Alcohol’s Effects On the Developing Brain And Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prenatal and Postnatal Choline Supplementation in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Ernst

Gimbel²,

Water³

et al. 2022

Nutrients

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Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is common and represents a significant public health burden, yet very few interventions have been tested in FASD. Cognitive deficits are core features of FASD, ranging from broad intellectual impairment to selective problems in attention, executive functioning, memory, visual–perceptual/motor skills, social cognition, and academics. One potential intervention for the cognitive impairments associated with FASD is the essential nutrient choline, which is known to have numerous direct effects on brain and cognition in both typical and atypical development. We provide a summary of the literature supporting the use of choline as a neurodevelopmental intervention in those affected by prenatal alcohol. We first discuss how alcohol interferes with normal brain development. We then provide a comprehensive overview of the nutrient choline and discuss its role in typical brain development and its application in the optimization of brain development following early insult. Next, we review the preclinical literature that provides evidence of choline’s potential as an intervention following alcohol exposure. Then, we review a handful of existing human studies of choline supplementation in FASD. Lastly, we conclude with a review of practical considerations in choline supplementation, including dose, formulation, and feasibility in children.

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Section: Alcohol’s Effects On the Developing Brain And Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Alcohol’s Effects On the Developing Brain And Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Alcohol’s Effects On the Developing Brain And Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Prenatal and Postnatal Choline Supplementation in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Ernst

Gimbel²,

Water³

et al. 2022

Nutrients

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“…Ware et al. (2021) demonstrated that the FC of the attention networks is altered in young adult drinkers. Jia et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential effects of alcohol‐drinking patterns on the structure and function of the brain and cognitive performance in young adult drinkers: A pilot study

Guo

Yan²,

Chen

et al. 2021

Brain and Behavior

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Introduction This study was aimed to determine how different patterns of alcohol consumption drive changes to brain structure and function and their correlation with cognitive impairments in young adult alcohol drinkers. Methods In this study, we enrolled five groups participants and defined as: long‐term abstinence from alcohol (LA), binge drinking (BD), long‐term low dosage alcohol consumption but exceeding the safety drinking dosage (LD), long‐term alcohol consumption of damaging dosage (LDD), and long‐term heavy drinking (HD). All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) to acquire data on brain structure and function, including gray matter volume (GMV), fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), functional connectivity (FC), and brain network properties. The cognitive ability was evaluated with the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), intelligence quotient (IQ), and short delay free recall (SDFR). Results Compared to LA, GMV significantly decreased in the brain regions in VN, SMN, and VAN in the alcohol‐drinking groups (BD, LD, LDD, and HD). ReHo was significantly enhanced in the brain regions in VN, SMN, and VAN, while fALFF significantly increased in the brain regions in VN and SMN. The number of intra‐ and inter‐modular connections within networks (VN, SMN, sensory control network [SCN], and VAN) and their connections to other modules were abnormally changed. These changes adversely affected cognition (e.g., IQ, CVLT, SDFR). Conclusion Despite the small sample size, this study provides new evidence supporting the need for young people to abstain from alcohol to protect their brains. These findings present strong reasoning for updating anti‐alcohol slogans and guidelines for young people in the future.

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“…Structural imaging studies have reported reduced volume and disorganization of white matter tracts in FASD children and adults (4,5). Functional connectivity studies also revealed that FASD patients present reduced inter-network functional connectivity (circuit between remote region) while their intra-network functional connectivity (circuit inside a defined region) is unchanged or even increased compared to controls, suggesting underlying structural deficits of long range brain connectivity (6,7). One particular target of alcohol neuroteratogenicity is the corpus callosum (CC), which is the largest fiber tract connecting the left and right cortical hemispheres.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuronal miR-17-5p contributes to interhemispheric cortical connectivity defects induced by prenatal alcohol exposure

Altounian

Bellon

Mann

2023

Preprint

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Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is the leading cause of non-genetic intellectual disabilities in the Western world and is responsible of a wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Structural and functional deficits in brain connectivity have been reported in FASD patients; still, whether and how PAE affects the axonal development of neurons and disrupts the wiring between brain regions is not known. Here, we developed a mouse model of moderate alcohol exposure during prenatal brain wiring to study the impact of PAE on corpus callosum (CC) development, a major white matter tract reported to be affected in FASD patients. Our results show that PAE induces aberrant navigation of interhemispheric CC axons that persist even after the end of the exposure, causing their ectopic termination in the contralateral cortex. Furthermore, these defects in interhemispheric connectivity persist into adulthood and are associated with defective bilateral sensorimotor coordination in behavioral tasks requiring cortical control and interhemispheric communication. Finally, we identified neuronal miR-17-5p and its target Ephrin type A receptor 4 (EphA4) as mediators of the effect of alcohol on the contralateral targeting of CC axons. Taken together, our results suggest that alteration of miRNA-mediated regulation of axon guidance signaling by prenatal alcohol exposure affects interhemispheric cortical connectivity and associated behavior in FASD.

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Functional connectivity of the attention networks is altered and relates to neuropsychological outcomes in children with prenatal alcohol exposure

Cited by 15 publications

References 50 publications

Prenatal and Postnatal Choline Supplementation in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Prenatal and Postnatal Choline Supplementation in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Differential effects of alcohol‐drinking patterns on the structure and function of the brain and cognitive performance in young adult drinkers: A pilot study

Neuronal miR-17-5p contributes to interhemispheric cortical connectivity defects induced by prenatal alcohol exposure

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