Mercury levels in hair are associated with reduced neurobehavioral performance and altered brain structures in young adults
-
Published:2022-06-02
Issue:1
Volume:5
Page:
-
ISSN:2399-3642
-
Container-title:Communications Biology
-
language:en
-
Short-container-title:Commun Biol
Author:
Takeuchi HikaruORCID, Shiota Yuka, Yaoi Ken, Taki Yasuyuki, Nouchi Rui, Yokoyama Ryoichi, Kotozaki Yuka, Nakagawa Seishu, Sekiguchi Atsushi, Iizuka Kunio, Hanawa Sugiko, Araki Tsuyoshi, Miyauchi Carlos Makoto, Sakaki Kohei, Nozawa TakayukiORCID, Ikeda Shigeyuki, Yokota Susumu, Magistro DanieleORCID, Sassa Yuko, Kawashima Ryuta
Abstract
AbstractThe detrimental effects of high-level mercury exposure on the central nervous system as well as effects of low-level exposure during early development have been established. However, no previous studies have investigated the effects of mercury level on brain morphometry using advance imaging techniques in young adults. Here, utilizing hair analysis which has been advocated as a method for biological monitoring, data of regional gray matter volume (rGMV), regional white matter volume (rWMV), fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), cognitive functions, and depression among 920 healthy young adults in Japan, we showed that greater hair mercury levels were weakly but significantly associated with diminished cognitive performance, particularly on tasks requiring rapid processing (speed measures), lower depressive tendency, lower rGMV in areas of the thalamus and hippocampus, lower rWMV in widespread areas, greater FA in bilaterally distributed white matter areas overlapping with areas of significant rWMV reductions and lower MD of the widely distributed gray and white matter areas particularly in the bilateral frontal lobe and the right basal ganglia. These results suggest that even normal mercury exposure levels in Japan are weakly associated with differences of brain structures and lower neurobehavioral performance and altered mood among young adults.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,Medicine (miscellaneous)
Reference84 articles.
1. Bernhoft R. A. Mercury toxicity and treatment: a review of the literature. J. Environ. Public Health 2012, 460508 (2012). 2. Registry. AfTSaD. Toxicological profile for mercury (Update). US Dept of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service (1999). 3. Holmes, P., James, K. & Levy, L. Is low-level environmental mercury exposure of concern to human health? Sci. Total Environ. 408, 171–182 (2009). 4. Rice, K. M., Walker, E. M. Jr., Wu, M., Gillette, C. & Blough, E. R. Environmental mercury and its toxic effects. J. Prev. Med. Pub. Health 47, 74–83 (2014). 5. Masley, S. C., Masley, L. V. & Gualtieri, C. T. Effect of mercury levels and seafood intake on cognitive function in middle-aged adults. Integr. Med. 11, 32 (2012).
|
|