What Does Diffusion Tensor Imaging Reveal About the Brain and Cognition in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders?

Abstract

Over the past 5 years, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) has begun to provide new evidence about the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on white matter development. DTI, which examines microstructural tissue integrity, is sensitive to more subtle white matter abnormalities than traditional volumetric MRI methods. Thus far, the available DTI data suggest that white matter microstructural abnormalities fall on a continuum of severity in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Abnormalities are prominent in the corpus callosum, but also evident in major anterior-posterior fiber bundles, corticospinal tracts, and cerebellum. These subtle abnormalities are correlated with neurocognitive deficits, especially in processing speed, non-verbal ability, and executive functioning. Future studies using larger samples, increasingly sophisticated DTI methods, and additional functional MRI connectivity measures will better characterize the full range of abnormalities in FASD. Ultimately, these measures may serve as indices of change in future longitudinal studies and in studies of interventions for FASD.

From Research to Practice: An Integrative Framework for the Development of Interventions for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

“…Since fetal alcohol syndrome was first described in the medical literature over 35 years ago (Jones and Smith 1973;Lemoine et al 1968), researchers have invested considerable efforts to delineate morphological and neurocognitive outcomes of prenatal alcohol exposure (See reviews by Lebel et al 2011;Wozniak and Muetzel 2011;O'LearyMoore et al 2011;and Crocker et al 2011 in the current issue for details). It is now known that children exposed to moderate to heavy amounts of alcohol in utero display a wide range of morphological and neurocognitive outcomes (O'Leary-Moore et al 2011), which are collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).…”

“…Furthermore, researchers have observed higher rates of psychiatric problems in individuals with FASDs, which have been attributed to the interactive effects of adverse life experiences and alcohol's teratogenic effects on the neurotransmitter systems (O' Connor et al 2002). Recent developments in neuroimaging have allowed researchers to delineate patterns of neuroanatomical anomalies associated with these cognitive and behavioral problems (Lebel et al 2011;Wozniak and Muetzel 2011) The above disabilities place a heavy burden on families and the society in general, with the lifetime cost for care of one individual with FAS being estimated at $2 million (Lupton et al 2004). Therefore, FASD constitutes a serious health problem in the United States and worldwide.…”

Mitogen-activated protein kinase modulates ethanol inhibition of cell adhesion mediated by the L1 neural cell adhesion molecule

“…The homophilic binding of L1 molecules on adjacent cells mediates neuronal migration, axon guidance, and axon fasciculation (9)-developmental events that are disrupted in FASD (10)(11)(12). Mutations in the human L1 gene cause brain lesions and neurological abnormalities.…”

Review of Current Neuroimaging Studies of the Effects of Prenatal Drug Exposure: Brain Structure and Function

“…The impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on measures of white matter microstructure shows that effects can be detected at multiple stages of development, are associated with behavior, and fall on a continuum ranging from mild to severe Abnormalities in the corpus callosum are frequently reported, but also in anterior-posterior fiber bundles, corticospinal tracts, and the cerebellum [79][80][81][82]. Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure are linked to reduced white matter structural integrity in the cerebellum [83] and abnormalities in axial diffusivity [84] as early as infancy.…”