What they found
A review of 14 studies found that environmental exposures like air pollution, metals, and tobacco smoke are linked to disrupted brain development in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). These disruptions include reduced brain volumes, altered cortical thickness, and changes in functional connectivity.
What they studied
This scoping review synthesized current evidence on associations between air pollution, metals, environmental tobacco smoke, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) assessed from pregnancy through childhood, and neuroimaging findings in children diagnosed with NDDs.
Takeaways
The findings underscore the importance of public health interventions to mitigate exposure to neurotoxicants and minimize potential neurodevelopmental risks.
About this paper
This scoping review identified 14 studies examining environmental exposures and MRI outcomes in children with NDDs. Future research should prioritize longitudinal, transdiagnostic designs with repeated exposure assessments and multimodal imaging, as well as advanced statistical modeling, to better capture complex relationships between exposure and outcome.