FRIDAY, April 18 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term exposure to
solvents in products such as paints and dry cleaning agents may
cause disturbances in the brain's wiring, researchers report.
These abnormalities play a role in a condition called chronic
solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE), the Dutch team conclude in
the April issue of the
Annals of Neurology.
People with CSE experience problems with memory, attention and
psychomotor function long after exposure to solvents has ceased,
according to background information in the study. Cases of CSE, a
recognized occupational health problem, are increasing in a number
of western nations.
This study found that disturbances within the brain's
frontal-striatal-thalamic (FST) circuitry are related to the
clinical characteristics of CSE, as well as to the severity of
exposure to solvents.
The study included 10 CSE patients who'd been exposed to
solvents and had mild to severe cognitive impairment, 10 people
who'd been exposed to solvents but had no CSE symptoms, and 11
people with no exposure to solvents and no CSE symptoms.
All the participants underwent a number of tests, including MRI
and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans to
assess their FST circuitry.
The CSE patients had reduced striatal dopamine D2 receptor (D2R)
binding ratios, which were predictive of impaired psychomotor speed
and attention, and were also linked to solvent exposure severity,
the study authors found. Dopamine receptor density is believed to
play a role in psychomotor speed.
The 10 people who were exposed to solvents but had no CSE
symptoms showed similar reductions but to a lesser extent. Both
groups showed reduced levels of choline (which plays a role in
neurotransmission) in the frontal grey matter of the brain.
The results indicate that certain parts of the FST circuitry are
affected in CSE patients and in workers who've been exposed to
solvents but don't have any CSE symptoms, the study authors
said.
"A better understanding of the nature, severity and specificity
of these suspected biological markers may further validate
diagnostic procedures, this reinforcing medical and social
recognition, and underlining the importance of prevention," wrote
Ieke Visser, of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, and
colleagues.
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about
CSE.
