A Prospective Study of the Impact of Severe Childhood Deprivation on Brain White Matter in Adult Adoptees: Widespread Localized Reductions in Volume But Unaffected Microstructural Organization

A Prospective Study of the Impact of Severe Childhood Deprivation on Brain White Matter in Adult Adoptees: Widespread Localized Reductions in Volume But Unaffected Microstructural Organization

Nuria K Mackes, Mitul A Mehta, Ahmad Beyh, Richard O Nkrumah, Dennis Golm, Sagari Sarkar, Graeme Fairchild, Flavio Dell’Acqua, Edmund J S Sonuga-Barke, ERA Young Adult Follow-Up Team · eNeuro

Researchers used brain imaging to compare 59 young adults adopted into UK families after Romanian institutional care with 20 non-deprived UK controls. They examined the size and internal organisation of brain white-matter pathways. Deprivation was associated with smaller volumes in several local areas, beyond differences in overall brain size. The imaging measures did not show altered microscopic organisation of the pathways studied.

Limitations: This concerns a historical cohort exposed to extreme Romanian institutional deprivation, followed after adoption into UK families. It does not represent adoption generally or establish that adoption caused the difficulties. Publications from this cohort use overlapping participants; regional coverage is not separately specified in the abstract. The imaging subgroup is small. Brain differences do not by themselves explain an individual’s abilities or wellbeing.

Research type

Longitudinal cohort study

Source reviewed

Abstract

Peer reviewed

Yes

Age group

Adults