Association of blood lead levels with neurobehavior and BDNF expression in school going children

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Neuroscience
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Childhood lead (Pb) toxicity is a persistent global health concern, with unclear pathogenesis.
• Prevalence remains high in South-East Asian low- and middle-income countries, despite reductions in developed nations.
• This study focuses on Indian school children, where lead exposure is a significant issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between blood lead levels (BLLs) and neurobehavioral alterations in Indian school children.
• To investigate the relationship between BLLs and Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) expression.
• To explore potential mechanisms of lead-induced neurotoxicity.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-two school children aged 9-15 years were enrolled.
• Neurobehavioral changes were assessed using the Childhood Psychopathological Measurement Schedule (CPMS).
• Blood lead levels (BLLs), BDNF mRNA, and serum BDNF were measured using GFAAS, Real-Time PCR, and ELISA, respectively.

Main Results:

• Median BLL was 4.95 μg/dL, near the toxic threshold.
• BLLs showed a direct correlation with CPMS scores and BDNF expression.
• Higher depression rates were observed in boys with elevated BLLs; BDNF levels were higher in children with high BLLs, though not significantly.

Conclusions:

• A significant association exists between high lead levels and neurobehavioral changes in Indian children.
• The correlation between BDNF and BLLs suggests BDNF's potential causal role in lead-induced neurological damage.
• These findings underscore the need for interventions to reduce lead exposure and mitigate its neurotoxic effects.