Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
R. Colin Carter, Neil C. Dodge, Christopher D. Molteno, Ernesta M. Meintjes, Joseph L. Jacobson, Sandra W. Jacobson
Summary: This study examined the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on iron homeostasis, growth, and neurobehavior. The results showed that PAE was associated with growth restriction, deficits in visual recognition memory and processing speed, and higher levels of emotionality and shyness. Changes in maternal hemoglobin and ferritin levels appeared to exacerbate these effects. Causal inference analyses also suggested that alterations in maternal ferritin and hemoglobin:log(ferritin) mediated a significant portion of PAE-related growth restriction. These findings highlight the potential role of iron homeostasis alterations in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Amena Alsakran, Tetsuhiro Kudoh
Summary: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders caused by elevated alcohol levels in pregnant mothers lead to symptoms such as microcephaly and cardiac defects. Zebrafish embryos provide an ideal model system to study the effects of alcohol on cell migration and brain development, serving as convenient biomarkers for toxicity research and investigation of molecular pathways in brain development.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xi Yu, Jade Dunstan, Sandra W. W. Jacobson, Christopher D. D. Molteno, Nadine M. M. Lindinger, Ted K. K. Turesky, Ernesta M. M. Meintjes, Joseph L. L. Jacobson, Nadine Gaab
Summary: Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with reading deficits in adolescents, affecting both brain function and structure. Adolescents with facial dysmorphology show distinctive neural correlates of reading disabilities compared to those without facial dysmorphology.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Marin Pielage, Hanan El Marroun, Hein J. Odendaal, Sten P. Willemsen, Manon H. J. Hillegers, Eric A. P. Steegers, Melek Rousian
Summary: This study investigated the association between periconceptional and prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal growth, and found that alcohol exposure was associated with reduced fetal growth, particularly when exposed during the periconception period or in the second trimester. The results indicate that potential negative consequences of alcohol exposure during pregnancy are detectable before birth.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Dana Ronen, Yehuda Senecky, Gabriel Chodick, Esther Ganelin-Cohen
Summary: This study aimed to assess the external validity of the Neurobehavioral Screening Tool (NST) and identify additional characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in a cohort of Israeli children and young adults. The NST demonstrated a sensitivity of 72%-73% and specificity of 34%-36% in identifying FASD. Other characteristics of the FASD group included emotional regulation difficulties, being born and adopted in Israel, and younger age at the first clinic visit.
EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Rafal Podgorski, Sabina Galiniak, Artur Mazur, Agnieszka Domin
Summary: Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), leading to growth impairment and various developmental, physical, and cognitive disorders in children. This study aimed to investigate the levels of hormones related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in FASD patients. Results showed that fasting proopiomelanocortin (POMC) levels were lower in FASD patients compared to controls. However, cortisol concentrations did not differ. The study suggests that hormonal dysregulation may contribute to the negative effects of FASDs on growth, development, and neurological functions.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Abigail M. Ernst, Blake A. Gimbel, Erik de Water, Judith K. Eckerle, Joshua P. Radke, Michael K. Georgieff, Jeffrey R. Wozniak
Summary: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a common condition with cognitive deficits as core features, and choline supplementation shows potential as a neurodevelopmental intervention in those affected by prenatal alcohol. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the literature supporting the use of choline in optimizing brain development and reviews existing human studies on choline supplementation in FASD.
Review
Pediatrics
Diego A. Gomez, Omar A. Abdul-Rahman
Summary: Recent research has focused on leveraging technology to develop tools for diagnosis, defining neurocognition and neuroimaging patterns specific to FASD, developing interventions, and expanding access to care. FASDs are a common cause of neurodevelopmental impairment in school-age children, and early interventions are essential for optimizing outcomes. Evidence suggests applying principles of neuroplasticity may improve the lives of patients and their families affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
CURRENT OPINION IN PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Review
Psychiatry
Leila Glass, Eileen M. Moore, Sarah N. Mattson
Summary: This review summarizes recent findings on the prevalence, public health impact, clinical presentation, intervention access, and conceptualization of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Despite ongoing efforts in prevention and identification, the rates of drinking during pregnancy have increased, and there are significant gaps in diagnosis and intervention.
CURRENT OPINION IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Regan Bradley, Koffi L. Lakpa, Michael Burd, Sunil Mehta, Maja Z. Katusic, Jacob R. Greenmyer
Summary: This review explores the relationship between iron deficiency and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and finds that iron deficiency contributes to the severity of FASD and provides a mechanistic explanation linking these two conditions.
Article
Pediatrics
Katarzyna Anna Dylag, Bozena Bando, Zbigniew Baran, Paulina Dumnicka, Katarzyna Kowalska, Paulina Kulaga, Katarzyna Przybyszewska, Jakub Radlinski, Sylvia Roozen, Leopold Curfs
Summary: The study investigated sleep problems related to FASD and found that the occurrence of sleep disturbances in patients with FASD was significantly higher compared to typically developing children. Significant differences were observed in areas such as sleep onset delay, night wakings, sleep disordered breathing, and daytime sleepiness. The sleep quality and respiratory indices of FASD patients were worse than those of typically developing children.
ITALIAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Theresah Boateng, Kathryn Beauchamp, Faerl Torres, Chaselyn D. Ruffaner-Hanson, John F. L. Pinner, Kishore Vakamudi, Cassandra Cerros, Dina E. Hill, Julia M. Stephen
Summary: This study quantified the differences in brain structure between individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and typically developing controls. The results showed that individuals with FASD had smaller brain volume, reduced cortical thickness, and reduced surface area compared to controls, with the pFAS/FAS subtype showing the largest effects. The study also found correlations between brain volume and IQ scores.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Francesco Sessa, Monica Salerno, Massimiliano Esposito, Nunzio Di Nunno, Giuseppe Li Rosi, Salvatore Roccuzzo, Cristoforo Pomara
Summary: Prenatal alcohol exposure is a major cause of preventable birth disorders and developmental delay worldwide. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is closely connected with criminal behavior. This systematic review provides up-to-date information on the relationship between FASD individuals and the criminal justice system and offers suggestions to reduce the public cost impact of FASD.
Article
Neurosciences
Justine Fraize, Clara Fischer, Monique Elmaleh-Berges, Eliot Kerdreux, Anita Beggiato, Alexandra Ntorkou, Edouard Duchesnay, Dhaif Bekha, Odile Boespflug-Tanguy, Richard Delorme, Lucie Hertz-Pannier, David Germanaud
Summary: This study revealed that the cerebellum and cerebellar cortex in patients with FASD are significantly underdeveloped, particularly in the anterior and posterior regions. This finding has important implications for the diagnosis of FASD.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shao-yu Chen, Maharajan Kannan
Summary: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are preventable birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, resulting in a range of cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and functioning deficits. This review examines the detrimental effects of ethanol on neural crest cells (NCCs) during embryonic development and explores the molecular mechanisms involved. It also discusses potential therapeutic strategies for mitigating the effects of ethanol on NCCs and reducing the risk of FASD.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)