High blood lead level correlates with selective hippocampal subfield atrophy and neuropsychological impairments
Background: Lead contamination is a major public health concern. Previous studies have demonstrated that lead exposure could affect the hippocampus, which is a complex and heterogeneous structure composed of 12 subregions. Here, we explored volumetric and functional changes in hippocampal subfields...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323004499 |
| _version_ | 1797833107236192256 |
|---|---|
| author | Yi Shi Yang Yang Wenhao Li Zaihua Zhao Linfeng Yan Wen Wang Michael Aschner Jianbin Zhang Gang Zheng Xuefeng Shen |
| author_facet | Yi Shi Yang Yang Wenhao Li Zaihua Zhao Linfeng Yan Wen Wang Michael Aschner Jianbin Zhang Gang Zheng Xuefeng Shen |
| author_sort | Yi Shi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Lead contamination is a major public health concern. Previous studies have demonstrated that lead exposure could affect the hippocampus, which is a complex and heterogeneous structure composed of 12 subregions. Here, we explored volumetric and functional changes in hippocampal subfields and neuropsychological alterations after lead exposure. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study at a smelting company between September 2020 and December 2021. Blood lead level was recorded, and neuropsychological functions were assessed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). The hippocampus was segmented into 12 subfields in each hemisphere in magnetic resonance images (MRIs). Then, the effect of altered hippocampal subfield volumes on brain functions were studied by seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Finally, the relationships between the lead level with hippocampal subfield volumes and neuropsychological functions were investigated. Baseline characteristics, hippocampal subfield volumes, and FC analysis were compared between lead-exposed (≥ 300 μg/L) and the control group (≤ 100 μg/L). Results: In 76 participants, lead level positively correlated with SDS(r = 0.422) and negatively correlated with MoCA(r = −0.414), MMSE(r = −0.251), Concentration(r = −0.331), Recall(r = −0.319), Orientation(r = −0.298) and Executive Function/Visuospatial abilities(r = −0.231). Lead group (26 participants) had lower MoCA and MMSE and higher SDS than control group (23 participants). A significantly decreased volume in the left CA4 and GC-ML-DG subfields was found in the lead group compared with the control group. The left GC-ML-DG of the lead group showed a decreased FC with the bilateral postcentral gyrus. The left CA4(r = −0.409) and left GC-ML-DG (r = −0.383) volumes negatively correlated with lead level. The FC between left GC-ML-DG and left postcentral gyrus positively correlated with MoCA(r = 0.318), MMSE(r = 0.379) and Recall(r = 0.311). The FC between left GC-ML-DG and right postcentral gyrus positively correlated with MoCA(r = 0.326), Executive Function/Visuospatial abilities(r = 0.307) and Concentration(r = 0.297). Conclusion: High blood lead level was associated with neuropsychological alterations, hippocampal structural and functional changes. The left GC-ML-DG and CA4 atrophy might serve as predictive imaging markers for neurological damage associated with high lead exposure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:19:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b5596c599eb4a728db8c4554483d7cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T14:19:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b5596c599eb4a728db8c4554483d7cd2023-05-05T04:39:44ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132023-06-01257114945High blood lead level correlates with selective hippocampal subfield atrophy and neuropsychological impairmentsYi Shi0Yang Yang1Wenhao Li2Zaihua Zhao3Linfeng Yan4Wen Wang5Michael Aschner6Jianbin Zhang7Gang Zheng8Xuefeng Shen9Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 of West Changle Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, ChinaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 of West Changle Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, ChinaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 of West Changle Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, ChinaDepartment of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, United StatesDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 of West Changle Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, ChinaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 of West Changle Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, ChinaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 of West Changle Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, China; Correspondence to: No. 169 of West Changle Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, China.Background: Lead contamination is a major public health concern. Previous studies have demonstrated that lead exposure could affect the hippocampus, which is a complex and heterogeneous structure composed of 12 subregions. Here, we explored volumetric and functional changes in hippocampal subfields and neuropsychological alterations after lead exposure. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study at a smelting company between September 2020 and December 2021. Blood lead level was recorded, and neuropsychological functions were assessed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). The hippocampus was segmented into 12 subfields in each hemisphere in magnetic resonance images (MRIs). Then, the effect of altered hippocampal subfield volumes on brain functions were studied by seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Finally, the relationships between the lead level with hippocampal subfield volumes and neuropsychological functions were investigated. Baseline characteristics, hippocampal subfield volumes, and FC analysis were compared between lead-exposed (≥ 300 μg/L) and the control group (≤ 100 μg/L). Results: In 76 participants, lead level positively correlated with SDS(r = 0.422) and negatively correlated with MoCA(r = −0.414), MMSE(r = −0.251), Concentration(r = −0.331), Recall(r = −0.319), Orientation(r = −0.298) and Executive Function/Visuospatial abilities(r = −0.231). Lead group (26 participants) had lower MoCA and MMSE and higher SDS than control group (23 participants). A significantly decreased volume in the left CA4 and GC-ML-DG subfields was found in the lead group compared with the control group. The left GC-ML-DG of the lead group showed a decreased FC with the bilateral postcentral gyrus. The left CA4(r = −0.409) and left GC-ML-DG (r = −0.383) volumes negatively correlated with lead level. The FC between left GC-ML-DG and left postcentral gyrus positively correlated with MoCA(r = 0.318), MMSE(r = 0.379) and Recall(r = 0.311). The FC between left GC-ML-DG and right postcentral gyrus positively correlated with MoCA(r = 0.326), Executive Function/Visuospatial abilities(r = 0.307) and Concentration(r = 0.297). Conclusion: High blood lead level was associated with neuropsychological alterations, hippocampal structural and functional changes. The left GC-ML-DG and CA4 atrophy might serve as predictive imaging markers for neurological damage associated with high lead exposure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323004499Lead exposureHippocampal subfieldFunctional connectivityNeuropsychological function |
| spellingShingle | Yi Shi Yang Yang Wenhao Li Zaihua Zhao Linfeng Yan Wen Wang Michael Aschner Jianbin Zhang Gang Zheng Xuefeng Shen High blood lead level correlates with selective hippocampal subfield atrophy and neuropsychological impairments Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Lead exposure Hippocampal subfield Functional connectivity Neuropsychological function |
| title | High blood lead level correlates with selective hippocampal subfield atrophy and neuropsychological impairments |
| title_full | High blood lead level correlates with selective hippocampal subfield atrophy and neuropsychological impairments |
| title_fullStr | High blood lead level correlates with selective hippocampal subfield atrophy and neuropsychological impairments |
| title_full_unstemmed | High blood lead level correlates with selective hippocampal subfield atrophy and neuropsychological impairments |
| title_short | High blood lead level correlates with selective hippocampal subfield atrophy and neuropsychological impairments |
| title_sort | high blood lead level correlates with selective hippocampal subfield atrophy and neuropsychological impairments |
| topic | Lead exposure Hippocampal subfield Functional connectivity Neuropsychological function |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323004499 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yishi highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments AT yangyang highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments AT wenhaoli highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments AT zaihuazhao highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments AT linfengyan highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments AT wenwang highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments AT michaelaschner highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments AT jianbinzhang highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments AT gangzheng highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments AT xuefengshen highbloodleadlevelcorrelateswithselectivehippocampalsubfieldatrophyandneuropsychologicalimpairments |