Only two MRI studies were identified in the literature that have evaluated changes in the brains of infants and children exposed prenatally to METH. The first study by Smith et al., reported on the use of MRS to evaluate neurochemical alterations in children exposed prenatally to METH and a control group of non METH-exposed children85. MRS allows for the assessment of neuronal and glial integrity and function, energy metabolism, and neurotransmission, and has been used to evaluate chemical alterations in normally developing children86-89 and in children with developmental delays90, autism91, 92, ADHD93, 94, and other conditions95, 96. In the Smith et al. study, children in the METH-exposed group also had prenatal tobacco (6/12) and alcohol (4/12) exposure; none of the control group were identified as alcohol exposed and only 1/14 was exposed prenatally to tobacco. Significant increases in total creatine in the basal ganglia of the METH-exposed group was noted, suggesting possible alterations in cellular energy metabolism, however, no differences were found in N-acetyl-containing compounds, a marker of neuronal damage or loss.
