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Reduced fractional anisotropy in projection, association, and commissural fiber networks in neonates with prenatal methamphetamine exposure
Author(s) -
Warton Fleur L.,
Taylor Paul A.,
Warton Christopher M. R.,
Molteno Christopher D.,
Wintermark Pia,
Zöllei Lilla,
van der Kouwe Andre J.,
Jacobson Joseph L.,
Jacobson Sandra W.,
Meintjes Ernesta M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
developmental neurobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.716
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1932-846X
pISSN - 1932-8451
DOI - 10.1002/dneu.22784
Subject(s) - fractional anisotropy , methamphetamine , white matter , diffusion mri , tractography , association (psychology) , neuroscience , confounding , biology , medicine , psychology , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , psychotherapist
Prenatal exposure to methamphetamine is associated with neurostructural changes, including alterations in white matter microstructure. This study investigated the effects of methamphetamine exposure on microstructure of global white matter networks in neonates. Pregnant women were interviewed beginning in mid‐pregnancy regarding their methamphetamine use. Diffusion weighted imaging sets were acquired for 23 non‐sedated neonates. White matter bundles associated with pairs of target regions within five networks (commissural fibers, left and right projection fibers, and left and right association fibers) were estimated using probabilistic tractography, and fractional anisotropy (FA) and diffusion measures determined within each connection. Multiple regression analyses showed that increasing methamphetamine exposure was significantly associated with reduced FA in all five networks, after control for potential confounders. Increased exposure was associated with lower axial diffusivity in the right association fiber network and with increased radial diffusivity in the right projection and left and right association fiber networks. Within the projection and association networks a subset of individual connections showed a negative correlation between FA and methamphetamine exposure. These findings are consistent with previous reports in older children and demonstrate that microstructural changes associated with methamphetamine exposure are already detectable in neonates.