Project
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Principal Investigator(s): Christian Beaulieu, university of Alberta; email: christian.beaulieu@ualberta.ca; Collaborators: Dr. Carmen Rasmussen, University of Alberta; email: carmen@ualberta.ca; Noella Piquette-Tomei, Dr. Gail Andrew, Jerome Yager, K. Goulden, J. Volden, L. Phillips
Start/End Date: April 2006 – April 2008
Location: Edmonton and Lethbridge, Alberta
Brief Description: Alcohol is a potent neuro-toxin that can cause severe irreversible damage to the unborn fetus if consumed during pregnancy. Glial cells are responsible for both guiding the structural development of the brain as well as myelinating axons in white matter to ensure efficient communication between brain regions (akin to Ethernet cables linking a network of computers) that is needed to perform complex cognitive tasks. Unfortunately, these glial cells appear to be particularly vulnerable to alcohol poisoning (Guerri et al, 2001) that can lead to brain abnormalities and the subsequent devastating consequences on cognition and behaviour. The three main brain abnormalities listed in the Canadian Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) guidelines are small head (and brain) relative to body size, thinner corpus callosum, and underdeveloped cerebellum. These abnormalities are insufficient to explain the range of deficits observed in these children. Also, better methods are required for early identification of children with FASD in order to have access to appropriate intervention which are more efficacious at younger ages. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods that are more sensitive to subtle brain injury, particularly in the white matter, may prove to be vital for the improved diagnosis and guided treatment of children with FASD.
Time Frame: Currently recruiting, testing started February 2007
Kind of Project: research
Population Served: urban and rural, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, children with FASD
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