Relationship between age and white matter integrity in children with phenylketonuria.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has shown poorer microstructural white matter integrity in children with phenylketonuria (PKU), specifically decreases in mean diffusivity (MD), in comparison with healthy children. However, little research has been conducted to investigate the relationship between age and white matter integrity in this population. The present study examined group differences in the relationship between age and MD across a range of brain regions in 31 children with early- and continuously-treated PKU and 51 healthy control children. Relationships among MD, age, and group were explored using hierarchical linear regression and Pearson correlation. Results indicated a stronger age-related decrease in MD for children with PKU in comparison with healthy children in 4 of the 10 brain regions examined, suggesting that the trajectory of white matter development is abnormal in children with PKU. Further research using longitudinal methodology is needed to fully elucidate our understanding of white matter development in children with PKU.
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1125, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Erika
E
Wesonga
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Campus Box 8131, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Joshua S
JS
Shimony
Department of Psychiatry, Campus Box 8134, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Jerrel
J
Rutlin
Department of Pediatrics, Campus Box 8116, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Dorothy K
DK
Grange
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1125, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Campus Box 8116, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Desiree A
DA
White
Brain; Children; Diffusion tensor imaging; Phenylketonuria; White matter