title: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and environmental toxicant exposure.
abstract: The study of neurological impacts of toxicants has emphasized neuropsychological tests as important outcome variables. Direct assessment of neural substrates of environmental impacts could offer many advantages. I discuss our use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the neurological assessment of adult lead poisoning of monozygotic twins as an example. Cognitive testing showed frontal lobe dysfunction in both twins, and more dramatic hippocampal dysfunction in the twin with higher lead exposure (JG). MRS showed lower N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratios in JG. The findings illustrate the potential utility of MRS in assessing impacts of not only lead, but other toxicants as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Occupational Health Program, Landmark Center, 401 Park Dr., P.O. Box 15697, Boston, MA 02215, USA. mweissko@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Marc G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Weisskopf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine