The Association of Prenatal Manganese Exposure with Problem-Solving Skills and Its Mediation by the Building Blocks of Executive Function

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bellinger, David C. ; Coull, Brent A. ; Korrick, Susan A. ; Oppenheimer, Anna V. ; Weisskopf, Marc G.
• Description:
  Background: Problem-solving skills build upon three core executive functions: inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. There is evidence of adverse associations of prenatal exposure to manganese (Mn) with core executive functions, but less is known about Mn associations with problem-solving or potential mediators of this association. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association of prenatal Mn exposure with problem-solving and to identify potential neuropsychological mechanisms through which this association may be mediated. Methods: Study participants were 410 adolescents from the New Bedford Cohort (NBC) who have undergone periodic evaluations since their birth (1993-1998) to mothers residing near a Massachusetts Superfund site. We investigated the association of cord blood Mn with problem-solving measured by the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Sorting and Tower subtests (scores scaled to a mean +/- SD of 10 +/- 3) using multivariable linear regression. Inhibition and cognitive flexibility were also measured by the D-KEFS; working memory was measured with the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, 2nd edition. Regression-based causal mediation analysis was used to assess the proportion of the Mn-problem-solving association mediated by inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility individually and jointly. Results: NBC adolescents (mean age 15.5 years) were socio-demographically diverse with 31 % in a low-income household at birth and had cord blood Mn concentrations similar to other general population samples. Mn was associated with Sorting but not Tower scores. Specifically, a doubling of cord blood Mn concentrations was associated with - 0.59 points lower (95 % CI: -1.16, -0.03) Sort Recognition score. In mediation analyses, there was suggestive evidence that inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility combined mediated 30 % of the total effect of Mn on Sorting. When analyzed individually, working memory mediated a larger proportion (24 %) of the effect than inhibition or cognitive flexibility. Discussion: We observed adverse associations of cord blood Mn with problem-solving among adolescents. There was suggestive evidence that the building blocks of executive function jointly, and working memory individually, were potentially important mediators of this association. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Cohort Studies Manganese Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Pregnancy Safety
• Keywords:
  Adolescent Neurodevelopment Adolescents Author Keywords: Prenatal Exposure Cognitive Flexibility Cognitive Function Cohort Studies Executive Function Inhibition Mediation Neurological System Prenatal Exposure Problem-solving Psychological Effects Working Memory

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• ISSN:
  0161-813X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  9 pdf pages
• Volume:
  92
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066576
• Citation:
  Neurotoxicology 2022 Sep; 92:191-199
• Contact Point Address:
  Anna V. Oppenheimer, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
• Email:
  annao@hsph.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Manganese (CAS RN 7439-96-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Neurotoxicology
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ae6ef2827d992999af6cfcc60524780e4321d1cdfafe3f267c93f43d176a76380250b7effddc5192a455b3fda05176224ccf5fd5b6c4e52df6730308493c9194
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230818/cdc_230818_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 469.42 KB ]