Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on cerebellar volume in children an MRI study
Master Thesis
2012
Permanent link to this Item
Authors
Journal Title
Link to Journal
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher
University of Cape Town
Department
Faculty
License
Series
Abstract
Years of research have demonstrated that prenatal exposure to alcohol contributes to a range of effects in exposed children. These include problems in attention and hyperactivity, deficits in memory and learning, and problems with social, as well as emotional development. Past research has demonstrated that the cerebellum is a significant target of the teratogenic effects of alcohol. The aim of this study was to determine whether prenatal exposure to alcohol has specific effects on the volumes of specific lobules of the cerebellum. Lobule tracing was performed manually, with Multitracer, using a refined methodology. Lobule volumes (normalized for total cerebellar cortical volume) were analysed as functions of diagnosis as well as alcohol exposure. Lobules IX and X were affected when analysing normalized volumes as a function of diagnosis, with the fetal alcohol syndrome diagnostic group being most specifically affected. Significant differences between sex groups were found only for right lobules I-V and left lobule VIII, and hemisphere differences were found in lobule X. When analysing normalized lobule volume as a function of alcohol exposure, in the left hemisphere, lobules I-V showed positive correlations with alcohol exposure, suggesting that this region is relatively spared. Lobule IX and the vermis of the right hemisphere showed negative correlations with alcohol exposure. The strongest negative correlations were found for measures of absolute alcohol per day averaged across the period of pregnancy as opposed to at time of conception. Overall findings suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure causes disproportionate reductions in volume in specific lobules of the cerebellums of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Description
Includes abstract.
Includes bibliographical references.
Keywords
Reference:
Boonzaier, N. 2012. Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on cerebellar volume in children an MRI study. University of Cape Town.