The Conversation
(Canada) - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder amid COVID-19: Fewer services,
potential boost in rates
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the leading developmental
disability in Canada. Despite its preventable nature, there is concern among
FASD researchers about a potential increase in FASD prevalence rates as a
result of COVID-19, in addition to the impact the pandemic is having on the
community.
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Hull Daily Mail
(UK) – Mum's drinking during pregnancy gave son brain injury
A Yorkshire grandmother has revealed how her grandson's mood swings turned
out to be a brain injury caused by her daughter drinking during pregnancy.
Read more
Science Blog - Advances
in Research on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are the broad range of
neurodevelopmental and physical effects that result from prenatal exposure to
alcohol.
Read more
Daily Mail (UK) -
Fury over controversial plans that could see pregnant women who drink of a
single glass of wine have it recorded on their baby's medical records as
charity warns it would be a 'gross infringement' of data privacy
Fury was sparked today over controversial plans that may see pregnant women
who drink alcohol have all their consumption recorded on their baby's medical
records — even if they only had a single glass of wine.
Read more
The Cold Lake Sun
(Canada) - Local artists the focus during annual FASD gala
For 20 years now the Lakeland Centre for FASD has been serving the greater
Cold Lake region. With offices in Cold
Lake, Bonnyville, St Paul, and Lac La Biche, the Centre offers diagnostic
services for children and adults, resource information and development; a
mothers-to-be mentorship program, and summer camp.
Read more
The Guardian (UK)
- Drinking during pregnancy is not without risk
Zoe Williams could not be more wrong (Bilge, booze and misogyny: why I’m
outraged by a new idea to police pregnant women, 18 September): drinking in
pregnancy is everyone’s concern. The National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (Nice) consultation document provided compelling arguments
explaining why society should be concerned about foetal alcohol spectrum
disorder (FASD).
Read more
Drink Tank
(Australia) - Facing disability: For the first time I have been given the
tools to survive
Jessica shares her lived experience of FASD in an effort to arm
individuals, families, carers and health professionals with information to
create successful interventions and support. She feels awareness and action are
key to not only slow the rate of children being born affected by prenatal
alcohol, but also to be able to accurately assess and diagnose those children,
so they have the best chance for happiness and success.
Read more
NoFASD Australia
- A BIRTH MOTHER’S STORY
I am a birth mother of a child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and
this is my story. I conceived my daughter at the age of 30. She is now 16. Only
seven weeks after ceasing the birth control pill, I discovered I was pregnant.
It never occurred to me to stop drinking alcohol as soon as I stopped using
contraception.
Read more
Hello Sunday
Morning - I didn’t know alcohol could harm my baby, before knowing I was
pregnant
I conceived my first child at 30. I had been married for 4 years when I
ceased my long-term use of the birth control pill. I continued to drink alcohol
at weekends, socially, but knew about avoiding certain foods and to reduce my
caffeine intake. I am well educated and had done my research. I didn’t want to
completely change my lifestyle, as long as my approach was ‘safe’ for my
developing baby.
Read more
CanFASD - What
FASD is: a caregiver’s perspective
When asked to write this blog on what FASD means to me, I struggled. FASD is a complicated disability with many
challenging aspects. I finally decided
that, in my experience, FASD to this point has meant missed opportunities.
Read more
Planet Radio
(Scotland) - 1 in 20 Scottish babies affected by mothers' drinking
Health experts are campaigning for more understanding of a syndrome which
affects 1 in 20 children. Statistices on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder show
it is more prevalent than has been believed for youngsters in Scotland, with
around 1 in 20 affected.
Read more
News GP
(Australia) - A perfect storm for spike in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
As alcohol use increases during the pandemic, Dr Magdalena Simonis and Dr
Karin Hammarberg argue the spike is likely – and we need to be ready.
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Department of
Health (Australia) - Australia leading the fight against FASD
As part of International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness
Day, the Morrison Government has committed nearly $24 million of funding for
FASD Diagnostic and Support Services.
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VIDEOS and
MATERIALS
The Scottish Parliament - MEMBERS' BUSINESS: RECOGNISING THE IMPACT OF
ALCOHOL FOETAL SPECTRUM DISORDERS
That the Parliament recognises the prevalence and significant impact of Foetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in Scotland, as discussed at the meeting of
the parliamentary Cross Party Group on Improving Scotland’s Health: 2021 and
Beyond on 26 February 2020.
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ENDpae - An Invisible, Life-Long Disability
NDpae is a life-long disorder caused by alcohol interfering with the
development of the foetal brain; this is also known as Foetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder (FASD).
Read more
FASDHub Scotland - 5th #FASDMonth webinar - Professional Round Table
discussion
This is the 5th in the series of #FASDMonth webinars and took place on
Wednesday 23rd September, hosted by FASD Hub Scotland/Adoption UK.
Read more
Six Nations of
the Grand River - SNGR Covid-19 Podcast Update with Lori Davis Hill for the
dates of Sept 24th - 28th
SNGR Covid-19 Podcast Update with Lori Davis Hill for the dates of Sept
24th - 28th Guest: Floretta Hill, talking FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder)
Read more
NHS - Understanding
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) - What Educators need to know
If you work in an educational setting, from early years to secondary
school, you will meet children and young people affected by Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Read more
FASD Success - #039
Claire Mafranc from Struggling Single Mom to Successful with a Vision
Are you a single mom, or even feel like a single mom – alone, isolated,
without close family or friends? Wondering if life as a caregiver with an
individual with FASD is going to be a constant state of chaos and confusion? It
doesn’t have to be that way.
Read more
Honestly Adoption
- How To Find Success With FASD
Parenting a child, or young adult, with a FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder) can be daunting, and just plain hard. If you're like many parents,
you've tried everything, and you're losing your hair for pulling it out.
Read more
RESEARCH
Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention - Exploring
Self-Regulation Strategy Use in Adolescents with FASD
Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) experience a range
of cognitive, behavioral, and physical difficulties, including difficulties
with self-regulation. We investigated self-regulation strategy use in
adolescents with FASD who completed a self-regulation intervention program.
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Journal of
Neuroscience Research - Neuroinflammatory contribution of microglia and
astrocytes in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Ethanol exposure to the fetus during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol
spectrum disorders (FASD). These disorders vary in severity, can affect
multiple organ systems, and can lead to lifelong disabilities.
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International
Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology - Effects of high fat diet and maternal
binge-like alcohol consumption and their influence on cocaine response in
female mice offspring
Therefore, in female offspring, some effects triggered by one of these
factors, PLAE or a HFD, were blunted by the other, suggesting a close
interaction between the involved mechanisms.
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Adoption &
Fostering - Carer stress in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: the
implications of data from the UK national specialist FASD clinic for training
carers
Total stress scores among carers of children with FASD were elevated and
far exceeded the threshold score on the PSI, suggesting a need for ‘further
professional consultation’. Consideration of parental needs and the development
of evidenced-based interventions specific for these carers are highlighted as
areas for future development.
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EThOS - An
insight into the experiences of teachers educating children with Foetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders in Northern Ireland
This study explored the experiences of teachers who have worked with
children and young people diagnosed with FASD in Northern Ireland.
Read more
OpenUCT - Tissue
Parameter Mapping in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which are caused by prenatal
alcohol exposure (PAE), affects people around the world. Certain communities in
South Africa have among the highest reported incidences of fetal alcohol
syndrome (FAS) in the world.
Read more
APHA's 2020
VIRTUAL Annual Meeting and Expo - Health and human services providers role
in preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)
Results found a variation between studies on the role of age, race, and
education level as risks factors for an alcohol exposed pregnancy (AEP).
Read more
UC San Diego - Language
and Communication Abilities in Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders
The results of this study provide important information regarding the
relations between basic language abilities and higher-level communication
skills of adolescents with FASD. Interventions targeting working memory,
inhibition, and attention may improve language abilities, which in turn may
improve communication skills.
Read more
Biology of sex
differences - Association between fetal sex and maternal plasma microRNA
responses to prenatal alcohol exposure: evidence from a birth
outcome-stratified cohort
Most persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) remain
undiagnosed or are diagnosed in later life. To address the need for earlier
diagnosis, we previously assessed miRNAs in the blood plasma of pregnant women
who were classified as unexposed to alcohol (UE), heavily exposed with affected
infants (HEa), or heavily exposed with apparently unaffected infants (HEua).
Read more
The Atrium - Screening
approaches for detecting fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in children,
adolescents, and adults: A systematic review
Identification of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) may help
facilitate the provision of supports and services for those who need them.
Screening has been proposed as an important step in recognizing those at risk
of having FASD.
Read more
Journal of Public
Health - Changes of drinking behavior in Korean pregnant women for the last
20 year
According to the results of the study in 2017, the rate of pregnant women
who drink alcohol after pregnancy was decreased compared to 1997 and 2008.
However drinking behavior severity has increased in 2017.
Read more
Early Human
Development - Maternal alcohol and drug use during pregnancy affects the
motor behaviour and general movements of infants aged 3–4 months
The study describes an abnormal movement character of infants exposed to
alcohol and/or addictive drugs in pregnancy when their motor repertoire was
assessed at three to four months of age. The AIMS also showed negative effects
on their motor behaviour.
Read more
Neuropharmacology
- Prenatal alcohol exposure reduces posterior dorsomedial striatum
excitability and motivation in a sex- and age-dependent fashion
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE)-induced clinical symptoms have been widely
reported but effective treatments are not yet available due to our limited
knowledge of the neuronal mechanisms underlying behavioral outputs.
Read more
American
Behavioral Scientist - The Complexities of Criminal Responsibility and
Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: How Can Therapeutic
Jurisprudence Help?
Using therapeutic jurisprudence as a framework, we examined whether
problem-solving courts (e.g., mental health court) could be used to address the
needs of a person with IDD and offer a different understanding and potential
solution to nonjudicial decision makers that satisfies the principles of both
criminal responsibility and public safety.
Read more
Digital
Repository - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Placental Insufficiency Results
in Reduced Neuronal Complexity in the Rat Prefrontal Cortex
This is the first study to investigate the dendritic complexity following
PAE combined with PI within the frontal cortex. Given the importance of this
region to executive function, this may provide insight into the long-term
deficits that are observed and provide support for interventions.
Read more
Neurobiology of Disease
- In utero alcohol exposure exacerbates endothelial protease activity from
pial microvessels and impairs GABA interneuron positioning
In utero alcohol exposure can induce severe neurodevelopmental disabilities
leading to long-term behavioral deficits. Because alcohol induces brain
defects, many studies have focused on nervous cells.
Read more
Current Biology -
Spatial Cognition: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Memory Puzzle
A new study shows that moderate prenatal alcohol exposure alters multiple
features of hippocampal spatial responses, leading to inflexible and less
precise representations of our surroundings.
Read more
Drug and Alcohol
Dependence - Associations of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Offspring Harmful
Alcohol Use: Findings from the Raine Study
Observed associations for maternal prenatal alcohol exposure but not
maternal pre-pregnancy alcohol use suggests a biological mechanism for
intrauterine alcohol exposure on the risk of harmful alcohol use in the
offspring.
Read more
Revista de la
Facultad de Medicina - Characterization of prenatal exposure variables in a
group of children aged 0-5 years with congenital heart defect treated in Cali,
Colombia
Congenital heart defects (CHD) have an estimated prevalence of 4 to 9 cases
per 1 000 births, and they have a significant impact on child morbidity and
mortality. This prevalence variability has been attributed to regional
differences in terms of genetic and environmental factors, among others.
Read more
Journal of
Behavioral Medicine - Cognitions and behaviors related to risk for
alcohol-exposed pregnancies among young adult women
This study assessed alcohol and sex-related cognitions and behaviors,
including alcohol-related sexual expectancies, descriptive norms, and
protective behavioral strategies, associated with women’s risk for an
alcohol-exposed pregnancy.
Read more
Birth Defects
Research - Physical activity may be an adjuvant treatment option for
substance use disorders during pregnancy: A scoping review
The findings from this review may inform the development of future clinical
trials to test the effect of structured exercise programs as an adjunctive
treatment option for pregnant women with substance use disorders.
Read more
Journal of
Midwifery & Womens Health - Applying Ethical Principles When Discussing
Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
Over the past 2 decades, more women in the United States are engaging in
excessive alcohol use, including women of reproductive age. Consuming alcohol
in amounts greater than recommended limits is associated with an increased risk
for adverse health effects, such as breast cancer, hypertension stroke,
spontaneous abortion, and infertility.
Read more
IN OTHER
LANGUAGES
Wprost.pl (Poland) - 80 proc. Polek spożywa alkohol, a ile proc. pije w
ciąży? Szokujące dane
80 proc. Polek spożywa alkohol, a 15 proc. pije również w czasie ciąży, co
naraża płód na poważne zaburzenia ujawniające się nawet wiele lat po
narodzinach dziecka – wynika z danych przedstawionych w środę, podczas
konferencji prasowej online, zorganizowanej z okazji obchodzonego 9 września
Światowego Dnia Świadomości FASD.
Read more
Metro
(Netherlands) - Mijn ingewikkelde lieve bonuszoon heeft FASD
Wendy Hoekstra heeft deze lezerscolumn geschreven omdat het deze maand de
FASD Awareness Month is. „Ik wil dat FASD bekender wordt zodat kinderen (net
zoals mijn bonuszoon) en oudere mensen met FASD betere hulp en meer begrip
kunnen krijgen.” Ook wil ze duidelijk maken dat er al bij „één glas alcohol
drinken hersenbeschadiging kan ontstaan.”
Read more
MDR (Germany) - Alkoholmissbrauch
in Schwangerschaft: Keine Entschädigung für Kinder
Kinder haben grundsätzlich keinen Anspruch auf Entschädigung, wenn die
Mutter während der Schwangerschaft Alkohol getrunken hat. Der besteht nur bei
einem versuchten Schwangerschaftsabbruch, urteilte das Bundessozialgericht.
Read more
Tagmedicina
(Italy) - Bere alcol durante la gravidanza può causare problemi al neonato,
anche a lungo termine
Nel mondo, circa il 60% delle donne beve alcol durante la gravidanza ed
ogni anno nascono circa 120 mila bambini (in Italia quasi 2500) che
probabilmente svilupperanno lo spettro dei disordini feto-alcolici (FASD).
Read more
Parlamentni (Czech
Republic) - Univerzita Karlova spustila informační kampaň "Stop
alkoholu v těhotenství"
V České republice se ročně narodí až 3 000 dětí s příznaky FASD (Fetal
alcohol syndrom disorders) v důsledku užívání alkoholu matkami během
těhotenství. Univerzita Karlova připravila informační kampaň, která má na tyto
problémy upozornit.
Read more
Der Springer
Medizin Podcast (Germany) - Was Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft anrichten
kann
Kein Alkohol für Schwangere – man sollte meinen, dass das heute eigentlich
jede Frau weiß. Trotzdem ist Alkoholkonsum in der Schwangerschaft nach wie vor
ein Riesenproblem: In Deutschland kommen jedes Jahr mehr als 10.000 Neugeborene
mit Alkoholschäden zur Welt. Dr. Reinhold Feldmann, Walstedde, erklärt in
dieser Podcast-Episode die Folgen mütterlichen Alkoholkosums und räumt mit
einigen Mythen zum Thema auf.
Read more
