Children who had higher blood lead levels at age 11 were more likely to have lower cognitive function, IQ and socioeconomic status when they were adults at age 38, according to a study published by JAMA.
Exposure to lead in childhood may adversely affect brain health and disrupt cognitive development. It is unknown if this disruption results in cognitive decline and altered socioeconomic trajectories by midlife. Aaron Reuben, M.E.M., of Duke University, Durham, N.C., and colleagues conducted a study that included participants of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, an investigation of health and behavior of individuals born between April 1972 and March 1973 in Dunedin, New Zealand. Childhood lead exposure ascertained as blood lead levels were measured at age 11 years. High blood lead levels were observed among children from all socioeconomic status levels in this group.
Of 1,037 original participants, 1,007 were alive at age 38 years, of whom 565 (56 percent) had been lead tested at age 11 years. Among the findings:
- Childhood blood lead level was associated with lower adult IQ scores nearly three decades later, reflecting cognitive decline following childhood lead exposure.
- Childhood blood lead level was associated with lower adult socioeconomic status, reflecting downward social mobility following childhood lead exposure.
- The relationship between childhood lead exposure and downward social mobility by midlife was partially but significantly mediated by cognitive decline following childhood lead exposure.
"The results indicate that childhood exposures to lead can be linked with cognitive and socioeconomic outcomes detectable more than 3 decades later," the authors write.
"For communities that have experienced collective lead exposure events and for countries where lead exposures are still routinely above health standards, the findings raise questions about the reasonable duration and magnitude of public responses. Just as the problem of toxic lead exposure in homes appears to persist, so too do the poor outcomes associated with such exposure. Short-lived public responses to community lead exposure may not be enough."
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(doi:10.1001/jama.2017.1712)
Editor's Note: Please see the articles for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
Related material: The editorial, "Childhood Lead Exposure and Adult Outcomes," by David C. Bellinger, Ph.D., M.Sc., of Boston Children's Hospital, also is available at the For The Media website.
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Journal
JAMA