The brain is our most complex organ.
I have always been fascinated by how the brain works. As someone who has had difficulty concentrating, I became interested in understanding the basic building blocks that control how the brain works. I have learned that there are many conditions that affect the development of a person’s brain and social behavior. Autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and learning disabilities are a few examples of disorders that affect brain development.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every six children in the United States is diagnosed with some form of developmental disability. As of 2020, one in every 44 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. These numbers have increased dramatically in the past 20 years. Therefore, it is very important to figure out how these developmental disabilities happen, and also to find ways to reduce these risks.
There are multiple complicated changes that take place during brain development because our brain is so complex. Sometimes these changes can be caused by a person’s inherited genetics. However, recent studies suggest a possible link between some household pesticides and disorders of brain development. Some studies have shown that when pregnant women and young children are exposed to common pesticides, these children are more likely to develop autism, attention deficit disorder, or other developmental disabilities.
Pyrethroids are a class of man-made pesticides that are widely used in household and agricultural settings. Pyrethroids are commonly used for landscaping and mosquito fogging in Lucas County. In addition, pyrethroids are found in many commercial bug sprays as well.
Pyrethroids are everywhere, but are they safe? The Environmental Protection Agency has regarded household use of these pesticides harmless for adults. However, recent studies have suggested that exposure to these pesticides during important brain developmental stages such as during pregnancy and early childhood may be harmful, even at levels considered safe.
My research is focused on studying specific behavioral changes resulting from exposure to pesticides using a prairie vole animal model. Prairie voles are small mouse-like rodents native to the Midwest, including Ohio. They tend to stay with the same partner for life, and both parents take care of their babies. They both also take part in social grooming and cooperative behaviors. Due to their unique social behavior, they are an excellent animal model to study complex networks in the brain related to social bonding and communication.
In my study, we looked at the offspring of female voles who were given small doses of a pyrethroid pesticide called deltamethrin before, during, and immediately after pregnancy. On reaching adulthood, the babies were tested for behaviors commonly related with developmental disorders, such as hyperactivity, repetitive behaviors, lack of communication, and failure to learn basic tasks.
Voles that were exposed to deltamethrin showed all the above behaviors. This suggests that this exposure changes brain development, resulting in similar behaviors to what we see in children with autism and other developmental disorders.
How do we reduce the risks of pesticide exposure and help our community? Our goal is to find a treatment that is both effective and easily accessible to everyone. One possibility is folic acid, or folate, which is a B-vitamin that plays a key role in several functions in the cells of your body including proper development of the brain and nervous system. Some studies have also found lower levels of folate in the blood of children with autism. Our exposure studies in animals suggest that the pesticide changes how folate is used in the brain.
One goal of my research is to determine whether extra folate in the diet during pregnancy can reduce developmental risks of pesticide exposure in children. In my study, a small group of pregnant voles exposed to pesticides were also given folate. The babies from these pregnant voles were not hyperactive and showed normal learning. However, there was no improvement in repetitive behavior.
Therefore, though folate could be a potential treatment, more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of folate. Keep in mind that folate supplements may not be suitable for everyone and should only be taken with the guidance of a health care professional.
Historically, research in brain developmental disorders has primarily focused on inherited genetics, which does not explain the dramatic increase in developmental disorders in recent years. We are focused on environmental effects, such as chemicals that we are exposed to daily. We are interested in finding an effective treatment that is easily available to the public. Our research is important due to an increasing population of affected children and because it will help to raise awareness within the community.
Nilanjana Saferin is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Neurosciences at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences Biomedical Science Program. Nilanjana is conducting her research with Dr. James Burkett. For more information, contact Nilanjana.Chakrabarti@utoledo.edu or go to utoledo.edu/med/grad/biomedical.
First Published June 5, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
