Decreased Brain Volume in Adults with Childhood Lead Exposure

A follow-up to a recent blog on childhood lead poisoning, new data from the U. Cincinatti published in PLoS Medicine today shows that Childhood lead exposure is associated with region-specific reductions in adult gray matter volume. Affected regions include the portions of the prefrontal cortex and ACC responsible for executive functions, mood regulation, and decision-making. These neuroanatomical findings were more pronounced for males, suggesting that lead-related atrophic changes have a disparate impact across sexes. This analysis suggests that adverse cognitive and behavioral outcomes may be related to lead's effect on brain development producing persistent alterations in structure. This research provides biological plausability to the long standing belief that lead poisoning of children causes both learning deficits and antisocial behavior. It also provides evidence for an evironmental cause of behavioral deficits in children from slum areas where lead is most likely to be found.