Dyslexia biomarkers study in newborn infants
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying Neuro-Genetic Oscillatory Biomarkers of Dyslexia Risk in Neonates
IRAS ID
156286
Contact name
Topun Austin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In this 1-year pilot study, we aim to identify potential changes in activity in the brain (neural oscillatory biomarkers) in newborns at risk of dyslexia, and to elucidate specific genotypes that are associated with these changes. Poor awareness of speech sounds (phonology) is the hallmark of dyslexia, across all languages studied so far. Despite the identification of several dyslexia susceptibility genes over the last 2 decades, little is known about the mechanisms by which genetic abnormalities give rise to neural deficits, and how these in turn generate a phonological deficit. Here, it is hypothesised that genetic changes in 4 major dyslexia susceptibility genes (which are involved in developmental processes operating during early brain development), are associated abnormalities in cortical microcircuitry. This structural deficit affects the generation of synchronous neuronal oscillatory electrical activity, which in the auditory cortex, is crucial for parsing the speech stream to extract phonology. To test this hypothesis, we will assess whether abnormalities in neural oscillatory activity (neural biomarkers) are able to reliably distinguish between neonates who are at high familial-risk for dyslexia and control infants. Oscillatory function will be assessed using electroencephalography (EEG) in 25 high-risk and 25 control neonates. In a subset of infants functional connectivity will be assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We will further investigate whether there are systematic relationships between the patterns of oscillatory activity observed, and infants' genotype with respect to key dyslexia risk genes. 16 previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 4 major dyslexia susceptibility loci will be analysed (DCDC2, KIAA0319, ROBO1 and DYX1C1). It is intended that the oscillatory biomarkers and associated genotypes identified in this pilot will be assessed more comprehensively in a future larger longitudinal study that will follow at-risk infants until preschool age (when phonological skills may be assessed directly).
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0165
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion