Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can result in lifelong cognitive and behavioral deficits. Structural brain abnormalities have been shown in older children, but whether they are apparent in younger children is unclear. We investigated structural brain connectivity in 32 children with PAE aged 2-7 years compared to 95 healthy controls using diffusion tensor imaging. Group differences in structural connectivity and correlations with age were examined within and between eight different brain networks. Children with PAE had lower connectivity within and between several networks, but faster development of connectivity than controls, suggesting delayed development.
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