The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Tri-Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2021 Sep;45(9):1775-1789. doi: 10.1111/acer.14673. Epub 2021 Aug 2.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a significant public health problem that is associated with a broad range of physical, neurocognitive, and behavioral effects resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been an important tool for advancing our knowledge of abnormal brain structure and function in individuals with FASD. However, whereas only a small number of studies have applied graph theory-based network analysis to resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data in individuals with FASD additional research in this area is needed.
Resting-state fMRI data were collected from adolescent and young adult participants (ages 12-22) with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) and neurotypically developing controls (CNTRL) from previous studies. Group independent components analysis (gICA) was applied to fMRI data to extract components representing functional brain networks. Functional network connectivity (FNC), measured by Pearson correlation of the average independent component (IC) time series, was analyzed under a graph theory framework to compare network modularity, the average clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and global efficiency between groups. Cognitive intelligence, measured by the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), was compared and correlated to global network measures.
Group comparisons revealed significant differences in the average clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and global efficiency. Modularity was not significantly different between groups. The FAS and ARND groups scored significantly lower than the CNTRL group on Full Scale IQ (FS-IQ) and the Vocabulary subtest, but not the Matrix Reasoning subtest. No significant associations between intelligence and graph theory measures were detected.
Our results partially agree with previous studies examining global graph theory metrics in children and adolescents with FASD and suggest that the exposure to alcohol during prenatal development leads to disruptions in aspects of functional network segregation and integration.
胎儿酒精谱系障碍（FASD）是一个重大的公共卫生问题，与产前酒精暴露（PAE）导致的广泛的身体、神经认知和行为影响有关。磁共振成像（MRI）一直是我们了解 FASD 个体异常大脑结构和功能的重要工具。然而，尽管只有少数研究将基于图论的网络分析应用于 FASD 个体的静息态功能磁共振成像（fMRI）数据，但该领域还需要更多的研究。
从以前的研究中，采集了患有胎儿酒精综合征（FAS）或酒精相关神经发育障碍（ARND）的青少年和年轻成人参与者（年龄 12-22 岁）以及神经典型对照组（CNTRL）的静息态 fMRI 数据。采用组独立成分分析（gICA）对 fMRI 数据进行分析，以提取代表功能脑网络的成分。在图论框架下，通过平均独立成分（IC）时间序列的 Pearson 相关分析，对功能网络连接（FNC）进行分析，以比较组间的网络模块性、平均聚类系数、特征路径长度和全局效率。通过韦氏简明智力量表（WASI）测量认知智力，并与全局网络测量进行比较和相关分析。
组间比较显示，平均聚类系数、特征路径长度和全局效率存在显著差异。模块性在组间无显著差异。FAS 和 ARND 组在全量表智商（FS-IQ）和词汇子测验中的得分显著低于 CNTRL 组，但在矩阵推理子测验中则没有显著差异。智力与图论测量之间没有显著的关联。
我们的研究结果部分与以前研究 FASD 儿童和青少年的全局图论指标的研究结果一致，表明产前发育过程中暴露于酒精会导致功能网络分离和整合方面的中断。
