PEDIATRIC RADIOLOGY / ORIGINAL PAPER
Correlation between metabolite concentrations in the frontal lobes, determined using 1H-MRS, and IQ in children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder
1
Department of Radiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
2
ITEM – Psychology Centre, Żywiec, Poland
Submission date: 2025-04-01
Final revision date: 2025-07-04
Acceptance date: 2025-07-08
Publication date: 2025-10-03
Corresponding author
Monika Ostrogórska
Department of Radiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Department of Radiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Pol J Radiol, 2025; 90: 484-489
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a broad term describing a range of conditions that may be caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the metabolism in the frontal lobes of the brain and the IQ in children with FASD.
Material and methods:
The study assessed a total of 124 children of both genders, aged 5-17 years, with diagnosed FASD, including 62 children with foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 34 children with partial foetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS), and 28 children with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in frontal lobes were performed.
Results:
There was a statistically significant difference in IQ scores between the group of children with FASD (mean 90.42) and the control group (mean 121.26). In 1H-MRS, significantly higher Lip/Cr levels were observed in the children with FASD than in the controls in the left frontal lobe. There is a significant negative correlation between IQ scores and Lip/Cr concentrations in the right frontal lobe and in both frontal lobes in children with FASD.
Conclusions:
Children with FASD have a significantly lower IQ than their peers from a healthy control group. This may be linked to the changes in the frontal lobes caused by prenatal alcohol consumption, in particular the elevated lipid levels.
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a broad term describing a range of conditions that may be caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the metabolism in the frontal lobes of the brain and the IQ in children with FASD.
Material and methods:
The study assessed a total of 124 children of both genders, aged 5-17 years, with diagnosed FASD, including 62 children with foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 34 children with partial foetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS), and 28 children with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in frontal lobes were performed.
Results:
There was a statistically significant difference in IQ scores between the group of children with FASD (mean 90.42) and the control group (mean 121.26). In 1H-MRS, significantly higher Lip/Cr levels were observed in the children with FASD than in the controls in the left frontal lobe. There is a significant negative correlation between IQ scores and Lip/Cr concentrations in the right frontal lobe and in both frontal lobes in children with FASD.
Conclusions:
Children with FASD have a significantly lower IQ than their peers from a healthy control group. This may be linked to the changes in the frontal lobes caused by prenatal alcohol consumption, in particular the elevated lipid levels.
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