Elsevier

NeuroImage

Volume 223, December 2020, 117320
NeuroImage

Adrenarcheal hormone-related development of white matter during late childhood

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117320Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • White matter fibre density and cross-section increased from ages 8.5 to 10 years.

  • There were no sex differences in white matter fibre development.

  • Changes in testosterone were associated with fibre cross-section development in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus.

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to longitudinally examine how adrenarcheal hormones influence the development of white matter structure from age 8.5 to 10 years. Participants were 120 children (66 female; mean age 8.45 years at Time 1 and 9.97 years at Time 2) who completed two diffusion-weighted imaging scans 1.5 years apart. Morning saliva samples were taken at both assessment time points to measure levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulphate (DHEAS), and testosterone. Fixel-based analysis was performed to examine how changes in white matter fibre density (FD) and cross-section (FC) over time were associated with initial levels of hormones, and changes in hormone levels over time. Both FD and FC increased over time in a wide range of white matter tracts. Increases in testosterone over time were related to relatively weaker increases in FC in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. Levels and change in DHEA and DHEAS were not related to FD or FC changes. The results demonstrated development of white matter fibre density and cross-section from age 8.5 to 10 years. Changes in adrenarcheal hormone levels showed limited, localized associations with development of white matter FC. Future research should examine the relevance of adrenarcheal hormone-related white matter development for cognitive functioning; as well as directly compare analysis techniques of white matter structure.

Keywords

DWI
Adrenarche
White matter
Hormones
Childhood

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