MRI detect brain damage caused by fetal alcohol syndrome

Wednesday, 12 de January de 2022

Brain image techniques as instance as EEG, NIRS and MRI have been crucial in order to comprehend the anatomical and physiological brain behavior, also to prevent and accomplish early diagnosis of brain pathology. In this regard, the MRI or also known as Magnetic Resonance Image is a non-radioactive and non-invasive technique that uses a powerful magnetic field greater than the magnetic field of the earth, and radiofrequency (RF) pulses to interact with the human body water molecules. By this interaction, the hydrogen is able to send back pulses of radiofrequency to the MRI machine and as result voxel images are created on a gray scale color.

A recent study led by Wang and colleagues, published on Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences could use MRI to investigate the brain damages caused by fetal alcohol syndrome during pregnancy. The research was performed in a nonhuman primate, known as, Rhesus macaque, which is considered as golden standard experimental model on scientific research.

The research investigated 28 pregnant Rhesus macaque, in which the experimental group with 14 macaques was giving a amount of six alcoholic drinks per day, whereas the control group have not been exposed to any kind of alcoholic drink. The scientific research have found by using MRI that the exposure of alcohol during the beginning of pregnancy could cause brain abnormalities on cerebellar and brainstem growth and in the development of white matter fascicles related to sensory-motor function, which emerged at the third trimester. Scientists have not found significant differences on the control group compared to the experimental group during the second trimester.

This scientific research is very important to prevent and ensure a healthy growth and development of the fetal brain and its cognitive capability. Some pregnant woman drink alcohol during the first trimester of pregnancy for not being aware that they were pregnant. Therefore, the research advise that neuroimage could be used while pregnancy to assure the unborn was not exposed to any kind of toxic substance, and if it happens, the doctor will be aware of the situation and could intervene after the child's birth with therapeuticals procedure, this may decrease the damage caused by fetal alcohol syndrome, since it is during childhood that brain neuroplasticity is most active.

Reference:

[1] Xiaojie Wang, Verginia C. Cuzon Carlson, Colin Studholme, Natali Newman, Matthew M. Ford, Kathleen A. Grant, and Christopher D. Kroenke. In utero MRI identifies consequences of early-gestation alcohol drinking on fetal brain development in rhesus macaques, 2020.

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Autor: Tassia Nunes

#eegfmri #formri #bienestarwellnessbemestar #neurocognition