title: Intrauterine Exposure to Methylmercury and Neurocognitive Functions: Minamata Disease.
abstract: A large-scale food poisoning caused by methylmercury was identified in Minamata, Japan, in the 1950s. The severe intrauterine exposure cases are well known, although the possible impact of low-to-moderate methylmercury exposure in utero are rarely investigated. We examined neurocognitive functions among 22 participants in Minamata, mainly using an intelligence quotient test (Wechsler Adults Intelligent Scale III), in 2012/2013. The participants tended to score low on the Index score of processing speed (PS) relative to full-scale IQ, and discrepancies between PS and other scores within each participant were observed. The lower score on PS was due to deficits in digit symbol-coding and symbol search and was associated with methylmercury concentration in umbilical cords. The residents who experienced low-to-moderate methylmercury exposure including prenatal one in Minamata manifested deficits in their cognitive functions, processing speed in particular.
authors: a Department of Human Ecology , Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama , Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Yorifuji
authors: Tsuguhiko
authors: T
authors: Kato
authors: Yoko
authors: Y
authors: Kado
authors: Akiko
authors: A
authors: Tokinobu
authors: Michiyo
authors: M
authors: Yamakawa
authors: Toshihide
authors: T
authors: Tsuda
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Sanada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D020262:Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System / Q000209:etiology*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects*; D014888:Wechsler Scales
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds
keywords: Minamata disease; environmental pollution; food contamination; methylmercury compounds; neurocognitive evaluations; prenatal exposure delayed effects