# Examining neural mechanisms of developmental dyslexia from infancy to school-age

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $670,774

## Abstract

SUMMARY:
Developmental Dyslexia (DD) is a strongly heritable specific learning disability of neurobiological origin,
but the
underlying neural mechanisms are largely unknown. Although DD is not diagnosed until a child has failed to
learn to read, usually in late elementary school, after reading impairments and associated psychological
burdens manifest, interventions are most effective in younger children. Thus, to date, DD is generally
diagnosed after the most effective time for intervention has passed. A tentative pathway between genetic
effects, early brain development, and behavior in DD has been proposed but only a few studies have examined
longitudinal brain development in infants at risk for DD and none have investigated the development of brain
structure or metabolic function. Furthermore, although behavioral research has demonstrated a strong
relationship between reading skills in parents and their children, the intergenerational transmission of structural
and functional brain alterations in DD is unknown. Building on our previous work, which showed atypical
functional and structural brain development in infants, preschoolers, and kindergarteners at-risk for dyslexia,
the goal of this proposed project is to characterize trajectories of early brain development in infants with
(FHD+) and without (FHD-) a familial risk for DD from early infancy through elementary school and to further
examine intergenerational transmission of brain alterations associated with DD in child-parent dyads. We will
utilize a longitudinal approach and
MR measures will be obtained in a new infant cohort, and an existing child
cohort for which infant data have already been collected. Furthermore, the parents of all children will be
examined. Using functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging as well as magnetic resonance
spectroscopy and behavioral measures, Aim 1 (cross-sectional) will characterize atypical structural, functional
and metabolic brain development in FHD+ compared to FHD- infants and children at 5 time points. Aim 2
(longitudinal) utilizes growth curve and trajectory analyses to characterize and compare developmental
trajectories of FHD+ and FHD- infants from infancy through elementary school. Aim 3 will examine the
intergenerational transmission of brain structure/function critical for reading as well as behavioral reading skills
in children-parent dyads. The current practice of DD diagnosis only after years of reading failure is detrimental
to the well-being of children and their families who experience the psychosocial implications of DD for years
prior to diagnosis. Identifying the underlying neural mechanisms of DD in infancy is highly innovative and has
the potential to inform early identification of children at risk and the development of early preventive and
intervention strategies during a period of heightened brain plasticity. It may also draw increased research
attention to this age group (infancy) in DD and has the potential to prov...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985980
- **Project number:** 5R01HD065762-10
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Nadine Gaab
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $670,774
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-03-15 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985980

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985980, Examining neural mechanisms of developmental dyslexia from infancy to school-age (5R01HD065762-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985980. Licensed CC0.

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