MethWatch

There is some interesting work being done at OHSU School of Medicine.  It's an ongoing study that will use MRI's to measure the influence of prenatal meth exposure in young children.  Scientists will use the large scanners to measure brain activity in children ages 7 to 9 whose parents have a history of meth use.

Doctor Jacob Raber, an associate professor of behavioral neuroscience and neurology, is conducting the study.  He wants to see whether the kids exposed to meth while in the womb have any differences in cognitive ability.  The study has been going on for about a year; scientists tested 22 children last year, about half were exposed to meth, the other half were not.

Dr. Raber says they found the children exposed to the drug had a harder time with space navigation, meaning they couldn't find a location in any given environment as well as the children who were not exposed to methamphetamine.  He says the next phase of the study will look specifically at any risk factors for alzheimer's disease and if the children exposed to meth are more susceptible to memory impairment.  "Which brain areas are required for children when performing certain tasks and also is there a difference between children exposed to methamphetamine during pregnancy, or not, in terms of brain activation."

Testing will take place over the next several months at OHSU.  The MRI scanner will help scientists better understand which brain areas are affected.  Other tests, outside the scanner, will use paper-based and computer tests including a 3-dimensional, computer-generated reality program called "Memory Island."

This week's MethWatch suspect is Julie Marie Hunt, who has an outstanding no-bail felony warrant held by the Oregon State Parole Board for the original charges of manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine and heroin.  Hunt is described as 5'7", weighs about 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.  She has pierced ears and may be going by the names of Julie Marie Silva or Jodie Silva.

The case number is 050808.  If you've seen Hunt, or have any information on her whereabouts, you can call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-3-DETECT.  Sonitrol of Medford will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.