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Lead exposure, brain damage linked
Childhood lead exposure causes permanent brain damage with lifelong consequences, according to new research from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Researchers led by Kim Cecil used functional MRI technology to show that activity decreases in regions of the brain that control decision-making and emotional response in people who suffered lead exposure as children.
Other regions of the brain took over those tasks, but didn't perform as efficiently, Cecil said.
"Your brain has some adaptability and it tries to recruit other areas to take over for parts that are damaged," she said. "But it doesn't work as well. It's like when you need a hammer to do a job and you're tapping away at it with a screwdriver. You may still complete the task, but you're not using the right tool, and you're not going to get as good a result."