EuroWeekly News (Spain) - Almost half of pregnant women drink alcohol according to Spanish study
ACCORDING to a study carried out by BCNatal, the Center for Maternal Fetal of the Sant Joan de Deu and Clinic hospital, 42 per cent of women consume alcohol despite the negative affect it can have on the baby’s growth and neurodevelopment.
The BMJ (Scotland) - Guidance on fetal alcohol syndrome aims to improve diagnosis and treatment in Scotland
Guidelines to help doctors diagnose fetal alcohol spectrum disorder have been published by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network,1 the first in the UK to cover the disorder.
Nursing Times (UK) - First ever guidelines issued in UK for diagnosing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Healthcare professionals are being urged to read the UK’s first guideline on diagnosing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in order to become better acquainted with how to identify it.
SIGN (Scotland) - Children and young people exposed prenatally to alcohol
Alcohol consumption in pregnancy has the potential to cause significant fetal damage. In 1973, a cluster of birth defects resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) was first described as the clinical entity fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Bonnyville Nouvelle (Canada) - AHS looking to improve FASD services
Those with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) can’t always access the services available to them, and Alberta Health Services (AHS) is looking to change that.
The Times (UK) - Ask women about drink habits more to cut foetal disorder risk, GPs told
Women should be questioned about their drinking habits every time they see a doctor, experts have said, amid concern about the number of babies exposed to alcohol in the womb.
TAPinto.net (USA) - Understanding Birth Defects
Each year in United States, more than 120,000 babies are born with birth defects. With such a high number, what steps can future parents and expectant mothers take to prevent birth defects?
Honolulu Star-Advertiser (USA) - How to help kids with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder
The National Institutes of Health estimates that between 2 and 5 percent of children in the U.S. show signs of prenatal alcohol exposure. Fetal alcohol syndrome disorder now appears to be more prevalent than autism spectrum disorder.
Eyewitness News (South Afica) - HOW EASY ACCESS TO ALCOHOL, AND ADVERTS, AFFECT WOMEN IN SA
Alcohol is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. It’s also a key risk factor for preventable illness and death in Africa. For example, alcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with many adverse effects on children. These include childhood behavioural and developmental disorders such as foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Premium Times (Nigeria) - In northern Nigeria, drug abuse remains a problem among women
The role of the female which includes bearing children means any drug addiction does not stop on the person involved but it also affects another person-the unborn child. Women who drink while pregnant risk their newborn babies developing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, the most severe is the fetal alcohol syndrome.
University of North Dakota - UND Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Center releases new report on FASD in North Dakota
The North Dakota Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Center at the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS) has released its “Report to North Dakota on Fetal Alcohol Exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).”
MetDaan - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome And Everything Future Parents Should Know About It
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a type of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in children that is caused by alcohol exposure during the mother’s pregnancy. This can occur because alcohol passes from the mother’s blood to her baby through the placenta.
drinktank (Australia) - Summer Series: This is what an alcohol pregnancy warning label should look like
Today we look back at the long and continuing battle towards mandatory pregnancy warning labels on alcohol products.
VIDEOS and MATERIALS
FASD hub Australia - FASD 2018 Conference materials
Hosted by the FASD Research Australia Centre of Research Excellence the two-day conference (21 - 22 November 2018) saw leading international FASD researchers take the stage alongside health, justice and education sector professionals, as well as families, carers, and advocates for people with FASD.
UW Lend – FASD and Diagnosis
WSOCTV - WEB EXTRA: Doctor talks about children with FASD
UPCOMING
Anishinabek G7 FASD Conference - FASD: Supports & Resources (February 26-27, 2019 Canada)
9TH ANNUAL ANISHINABEK G7 FASD CONFERENCE
Matua Raki - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) workshop – Dunedin (5 April 2019, New Zealand)
This workshop is aimed to enhance the ability of frontline professionals to recognise and respond effectively and compassionately to people who may have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and other neurodevelopmental impairments.
Organizer Hamilton And Halton FASD Parent & Caregiver's Support Groups - FASD - Achieving New Heights Together! (March 22, 2019, Canada)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) conference to provide parent, caregivers, professionals and individuals living with FASD information to enhance their lives and learn how to acheivce new heights together! The conference is a collaboration of the Halton and Hamilton FASD support groups.
OSHAY’S FASD AWARNESS SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS CARERS AND KINSHIP CARE (February 14, 2019, Scotland)
We are running our very first support group, please come along and support us, we are going to be talking about the challenges we face everyday with our kids right through to adulthood, we will talk about the joys and stressors we face everyday.
FASD Waterloo - Nourishing the Caregiver Living with FASD- The Importance of Self Care (February 20, 2019 Canada)
The Adoption Exchange - FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) and Drug Exposure in Children (FREE Webinar, March 5, 2019 USA)
The purpose of this training is to provide current, intellectually accessible, and useful information on drug use in utero and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) / Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) to support professionals, kinship, adoptive, and foster parents, and to increase understanding of in-utero substance exposure, reduce frustration, expand the range of effective parenting and classroom interventions, and provide a foundation for parents and professionals to collaborate in an effort to meet the needs of the children/youth.
UBC - 8 TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER, MARCH 6 – 9, 2019, VANCOUVER
This advanced level conference/meeting continues to bring together global experts from multiple disciplines to share international research. From the pure science, to prevention, diagnosis and intervention across the lifespan, the conference will address the implications of this research and promote scientific/community collaboration.
RESEARCH
Cancer Epidemiology - Parental smoking, maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the risk of neuroblastoma in children. A pooled analysis of the ESCALE and ESTELLE French studies
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extra‐cranial tumour in children. Little is known about the aetiology of NB. The early age at onset and the embryonic nature suggest a role for perinatal exposures.
Birth Defects Research - Differential neuroimaging indices in prefrontal white matter in prenatal alcohol‐associated ADHD versus idiopathic ADHD
These findings point to tract focal, white‐matter pathology possibly specific for ADHD+PAE subjects. Low Cho may derive from abnormal choline metabolism; low FA suggests suboptimal white‐matter integrity in PAE.
Journal on Developmental Disabilities - An Investigation of Sibling Relationships: A Comparison of the Stresses and Uplifts of Adolescents of Siblings With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome
Journal on Developmental Disabilities - Sibling Relationships in Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and Down Syndrome: A Comparison Study
Journal on Developmental Disabilities - "He's Not Leaving": Families Raising Adopted Adult Children With FASD in Ontario
Read moreEducation and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities -
Effects of a Self-Management Intervention to Improve Behaviors of a Child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
The Israel Medical Journal - Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder among High-Risk Children and Adolescents in a Correctional Facility
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) may be under-recognized and under-diagnosed in Israel. Fewer than 10 FASD diagnoses were reported between 1998 and 2007; however, several hundred diagnoses have been made since. Furthermore, less than 10% of surveyed Israeli pediatricians reported adequate knowledge of FASD.
Cardiovascular Toxicology - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Causes Adverse Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Changes and Dysfunction in Neonatal Mice
Our studies focus on the role of cardiac fibroblasts in the neonatal heart, and how they are affected by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). We hypothesize that PAE affects fibroblast function contributing to dysregulated collagen synthesis, which leads to cardiac dysfunction.
Birth defects Research - Suicide risk in adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
The teratogenic effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) have been extensively documented over the course of 45 years of research and psychiatric problems are pervasive in this population.
OAKTrust - Communication Practices Regarding Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study of Texas Midwives
Overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that alcohol consumption during pregnancy could potentially produce multiple, damaging, alcohol-induced effects in the unborn child collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology - Assessing for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Survey of Assessment Measures Used in Alberta, Canada
This study revealed important information about the use of testing measures in FASD assessment and sheds light on the commonalities in practice across clinics in Alberta. Results demonstrate strong convergence of direct and indirect measures to assess brain function.
Frontiers in Neurology - Detection of Children/Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder through Eye Movement, Psychometric and Neuroimaging Data
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is one of the most common causes of developmental disabilities and neurobehavioral deficits. Despite the high-prevalence of FASD, the current diagnostic process is challenging and time- and money- consuming, with underreported profiles of the neurocognitive and neurobehavioral impairments because of limited clinical capacity.
Curtin University - Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) through the Stories of Nyoongar Families and how can this Inform Policy and Service Delivery
This is the first study to explore Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the south west region, Western Australia. The study included a mixed methods approach of qualitative and quantitative and Indigenous Standpoint theory.
The Ohio Journal of Science - EFFECT OF PRENATAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE ON NERVES AND BLOOD VESSELS IN THE DEVELOPING HEART
Genesis - Retinoic acid signaling reduction recapitulates the effects of alcohol on embryo size
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) is commonly observed in human pregnancies and can result in severe clinical outcomes. IUGR is observed in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) fetuses as a result of alcohol (ethanol) exposure during pregnancy.
Neuroscience Letters - Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure suppresses the TLR4-mediated innate immune response in the hippocampus of young rats
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) could lead to developmental disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and mental retardation, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 plays important role in PAE-induced neurodevelopmental defects.
Reproductive Toxicology - Screening for prenatal alcohol exposure and corresponding short-term neonatal outcomes
The main purpose of this study was to compare 1.) PAE rates using the biomarker, phosphatidylethanol (PEth), in umbilical cord (UC) blood vs. ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in UC tissue, the standard of care, and 2.) Pregnancy characteristics and neonatal outcomes in newborns positive vs. negative for PAE biomarkers.
IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Thüringer Allgemeine (Germany) - Ausstellung warnt vor Alkoholkonsum in der Schwangerschaft
Eine Ausstellung in der Kapelle des Diakonissen-Mutterhauses in Eisenach warnt vor möglichen Folgen. Eine Erkrankung wird FASD abgekürzt. Sie tritt in unterschiedlichen Ausprägungen aus.
De Limburger (Netherlands) - Zwangerschap en alcohol foute combinatie, weet iedereen… Niet dus, met schrijnende gevolgen
Zwangerschap en alcohol. Een foute combinatie, dat weet toch iedereen? Nee dus. Bijna een op de tien zwangere vrouwen in Nederland drinkt wel eens.
Warszawa NaszeMiasto.pl (Poland) - Witaminy dla ciężarnych – jaką dietę powinna stosować kobieta w ciąży?
Oczekiwanie na malucha to radosny czas w życiu większości kobiet. Gdy miną pierwsze męczące objawy nowego stanu, ze spokojem i radością oczekujemy na poród. Choć mawia się, że „ciąża nie jest chorobą”, warto pamiętać, że rozwijający się płód wymaga szczególnej troski i uwagi.
NRZ Plus (Germany) - Susanne Weidling gründet eine FASD-Selbsthilfegruppe
Die fetale Alkoholspektrumsstörung gehört zu den häufigsten angeborenen Behinderungen. Die Xantenerin will Familien eine Stütze bieten.
FAS Portalen (Sweden) - Personer med FASD i folkhögskolans värld
Efter år av misslyckanden, ibland en hel skoltid, har många unga med FASD tappat både motivation och självkänsla och det är svårt att komma vidare till en meningsfull sysselsättning. För en del har folkhögskola blivit räddningen och vändningen i livet.
