FIU’s Tomás Guilarte is studying the effects of childhood lead exposure and ways to reverse its harms. Children exposed to lead are at increased risk of brain damage and disorders such as autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia. “Children absorb a higher percentage of ingested lead,” Guilarte says. “Their brains are undergoing critical development stages, and lead interferes with those processes.”
The team will study how lead exposure affects neurons, brain circuits and networks, and behavior. They will also assess the effectiveness of the flavonoid 7,8-dihydroxyflavone in mitigating the effects of lead exposure. The natural chemical found in foods (and also available as a supplement) has previously demonstrated the ability to reverse lead-induced damage in animals.
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