About FASD

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can impact fetal development and cause irreversible birth defects and brain injury.¹ Children with prenatal alcohol exposure are at risk of having fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD is not a diagnosis but rather an umbrella term describing the range of birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.² There are many terms under the FASD umbrella, including these medical diagnoses:³

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
• Alcohol Related Neuro-developmental Disorders (ARND)
• Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD)
• Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS)

Unfortunately, there is not a simple medical test (such as a blood test) that can be used to confirm a diagnosis. Instead, FASD is diagnosed by a team of trained professionals. Click here to learn more about the screening process.

Sources:

1. Burd L, Blair J, Dropps K. Prenatal alcohol exposure, blood alcohol concentrations and alcohol elimination rates for the mother, fetus and newborn. Journal of Perinatology. 2012;32(9):652-659.
2. Noor S, Milligan ED. Lifelong Impacts of Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Neuroimmune Function. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018.
3. Gross AC, Deling LA, Wozniak JR, Boys CJ. Objective measures of executive functioning are highly discrepant with parent-report in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Child Neuropsychology. 2015;2(4):531-538.

You've probably heard that binge drinking is unsafe during pregnancy^[1], but did you know that drinking at low levels can also affect a baby's development?^[2] Research has found that just one drink a day during pregnancy can lead to developmental issues during childhood.^[3] The safest and healthiest choice is to not drink any alcohol throughout the entire pregnancy.^{[4],[5],[6],[7]}

Sources:

1. Montag AC. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Identifying at-risk mothers. International Journal of Women’s Health. 2016;8:311-323.
2. Flak AL, Su, Bertrand J, Denny CH, Kesmodel US, Cogswell ME. The association of mild, moderate, and binge prenatal alcohol exposure and child neuropsychological outcomes: A meta-analysis. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2014;38(1):214-226.
3. Comasco E, Rangmar J, Eriksson UJ, Oreland L. Neurological and neuropsychological effects of low and moderate prenatal alcohol exposure. Acta Physiologica. 2018;222:e12892.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/alcohol-use.html
5. American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP Says No Amount of Alcohol Should Be Considered Safe During Pregnancy. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Says-No-Amount-of-Alcohol-Should-be-Considered-Safe-During-Pregnancy.aspx
6. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) prevention program. https://www.acog.org/programs/fasd/ 
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notice to Readers: Surgeon General's Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5409a6.htm 

All types of alcohol – including wine, beer, hard cider, wine coolers, and hard liquor – contain chemicals known as teratogens that are harmful to the embryo or fetus.^[1] One glass of red wine has the same amount of alcohol as one shot of vodka.^[2] Drinking any type of alcohol can impact fetal development and cause lifelong brain injury.^[3],[4]

Sources:

1. Glass L, Mattson SN. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study. J Pediatr Neuropsychol. 2017;3(2):114-135.
2. National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. What is a standard drink? https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/what-standard-drink?fbclid=IwAR0l3vzJRCgURMSAqTzMq0KWYo9-o5_5AZIET8xIqqe8vH_OtBECPOrNxzY 
3. Corrales-Gutierrez I, Mendoza R, Gomez-Baya D, Leon-Larios F. Pregnant women’s risk perception of the teratogenic effects of alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2019;8:907.
4. Treit et al. Longitudinal MRI reveals altered trajectory of brain development during childhood and adolescence in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Journal of Neuroscience. 2013;33(24):10098-109.

We all want to trust that our doctors are giving us the best possible medical advice. However, research has found that many health care providers aren’t aware of the most up-to-date information on alcohol use during pregnancy.^[1],[2],[3] Because of this, they may be sharing incorrect information with their patients. Proof Alliance is working to ensure that all health care professionals across the country know that there is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. 

Sources:

1. Coons KD, Watson SL, Yantzi NM, Lightfoot NE, Larocque S. “No alcohol is recommended, but…” Health care students’ attitudes about alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Global Qualitative Nursing Research. 2017;4:1-12.
2. Bagley K, Badry D. How personal perspectives shape health professionals’ perceptions of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and risk. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16:1936.
3. Kameg B, Knapp E, Pierce-Bulger M, Mitchell AM. Educational opportunities for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder prevention. Journal of Addictions Nursing. 2017;28(2):53-54.

The science is very clear that drinking alcohol while pregnant is unsafe; it can cause birth defects and lifelong disabilities.[1]^,[2],[3] However, there is not enough research yet to say if the father’s alcohol use can also be unsafe. Even so, drinking less or completely giving up alcohol can be a healthy choice for men. There are many health benefits linked with drinking less alcohol. Also, this is a way to be supportive of their partner choosing an alcohol-free pregnancy. 

Sources:

1. May PA et al. Maternal alcohol consumption producing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD): quantity, frequency, and timing of drinking. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2013; 133(2): 502-512.
2. Glass L, Mattson SN. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study. J Pediatr Neuropsychol. 2017;3(2):114-135.
3. Feldman HS, et al. Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Patterns and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects and Growth Deficiencies: A Prospective Study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2012;36(4):670-676.

Four of the five countries with the highest rates of fetal alcohol syndrome are located in Europe. These countries are Croatia, Ireland, Italy, and Belarus.[1] Other countries in Europe also have high rates of FASD. For example, it is estimated that 17% of people in the United Kingdom have an FASD.[2] This is much higher than the rate of FASD in the United States, which is 5%.[3] FASD exists wherever people drink during pregnancy, and it is estimated that more than 1,700 babies with FASD are born each day around the world.[4] 

Sources:

1. Sebastiani G, et al. The effects of alcohol and drugs of abuse on maternal nutritional profile during pregnancy. Nutrients. 2018;10:1008.
2. McQuire C, Mukherjee R, Hurt L, Higgins A, Greene G, Farewell D, Kemp A, Paranjothy S. Screening prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in a region of the United Kingdom: A population-based birth cohort study. Preventive Medicine. 2019;118:344-351.
3. May PA, et al. Prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in 4 US communities. JAMA. 2018;319(5):474-482.
4. Lange S, Probst C, Gmel G, Rehm J, Burd L, Popova S. Global prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among children and youth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(10):948-956.

There are many factors that determine how alcohol affects fetal development. These factors include things like the genetics, nutrition, and age of the pregnant person.[1] The baby's genes also play a role. For example, studies have found that while identical twins with alcohol exposure typically have the same effects, fraternal twins (who don't have identical DNA) can have very different effects and birth conditions from one other.[2] Alcohol affects each person, pregnancy, and baby differently. This is why the safest choice is to not drink any alcohol during pregnancy.[3]^,[4],[5]

Sources:

1. Subramoney S, Eastman E, Adnams C, Stein DJ, Donald KA. The Early Developmental Outcomes of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: A Review. Frontiers in Neurology. 2018; 9(1108).
2. Hemingway SJA, Bledsoe JM, Davies JK, Brooks A, Jirikowic T, Olson EM, Thorne JC. Twin study confirms virtually identical prenatal alcohol exposures can lead to markedly different fetal alcohol spectrum disorder outcomes – fetal genetics influences fetal vulnerability. Adv Pediatr Res. 2019;5:23.
3. Flak AL, Su, Bertrand J, Denny CH, Kesmodel US, Cogswell ME. The association of mild, moderate, and binge prenatal alcohol exposure and child neuropsychological outcomes: A meta-analysis. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2014;38(1):214-226.
4. Ramsay M. Genetic and epigenetic insights into fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Genome Medicine. 2010;2:27.
5. American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP Says No Amount of Alcohol Should Be Considered Safe During Pregnancy. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Says-No-Amount-of-Alcohol-Should-be-Considered-Safe-During-Pregnancy.aspx 
   

When you meet with your health care provider for prenatal check-ups, let them know about the alcohol exposure and share any questions or concerns you have. We also recommend telling your child’s pediatrician that there was prenatal alcohol exposure so that they can monitor your child’s development for any concerns. In the meantime, the safest choice you can make is to be alcohol-free for the rest of your pregnancy. Every day that you don’t drink helps protect your baby’s brain development.

Only trained professionals can make an FASD diagnosis. FASD is often misdiagnosed because many of the characteristics look the same as mental health disorders.

Signs to look for that may indicate the need for an FASD assessment include:

• Hearing or vision problems^{1, 2}
• Difficulty in school³
• Poor coordination⁴
• Sensitivity to light, touch, or sound⁵
• Hyperactive behavior⁶
• Difficulty paying attention⁷
• Memory issues⁸
• Poor social skills⁹
• Impulsivity¹⁰
• Poor reasoning and judgment skills¹¹

Sources:

1. Stephen JM, Kodituwakku PW, Kodituwakku EL, Romero L, Peters AM, Sharadamma NM, Caprihan A, Coffman BA. Delays in auditory processing identified in preschool children with FASD. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research. 2012;36(10):1720-1727.
2. Vernescu RM, Adams RJ, Courage ML. Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder show an amblyopia-like pattern of vision deficit. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 2012;54(6):557-562.
3. Glass L, Moore EM, Akshoomoff N, Jones KL, Riley EP, Mattson SN. Academic difficulties in children with prenatal alcohol exposure: Presence, profile, and neural correlates. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2017;41(5):1024-1034.
4. Taggart TC, Simmons RW, Thomas JD, Riley EP. Children with Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Exhibit Atypical Gait Characteristics. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. 2017;41(9):1648-1655.
5. Masotti P, Longstaffe S, Gammon H, Isbister J, Maxwell B, Hanlon-Dearman A. Integrating care for individuals with FASD: results from a multi-stakeholder symposium. BMC Health Services Research. 2015;15(1):1-12.
6. Young S, Absoud M, Blackburn C, Branney P, Colley B, Farrag E, & … Mukherjee R. Guidelines for identification and treatment of individuals with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and associated fetal alcohol spectrum disorders based upon expert consensus. BMC Psychiatry. 2016; 16(1):324.
7. Flak AL, Su S, Bertrand J, Denny CH, Kesmodel US, Cogswell ME. The association of mild, moderate, and binge prenatal alcohol exposure and child neuropsychological outcomes: A Meta-analysis. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2014;38(1):214-26.
8. Terasaki LS, Schwarz JM. Impact of Prenatal and Subsequent Adult Alcohol Exposure on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in Brain Regions Necessary for Simple Recognition Memory. Brain Sciences (2076-3425). 2017;7(10):1-16.
9. Panczakiewicz AL, Glass L, Coles CD, et al. Neurobehavioral deficits consistent across age and sex in youth with prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2016;40(9):1971-1981.
10. Pei J, Leung WSW, Jampolsky F, Alsbury B. Experiences in the Canadian criminal justice system for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Doublejeopardy?. Canadian Journal of Criminology & Criminal Justice. 2016;58(1):56-86.
11. Rangmar J, Dahlgren Sandberg A, Aronson M, Fahlke C. Cognitive and executive functions, social cognition and sense of coherence in adults with fetal alcohol syndrome. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. 2015;69:472-478.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have a number of overlapping characteristics. They are both neurodevelopmental disabilities that can affect brain function, development, behavior, and social interaction.^{1, 2} Not only do children with FASD often display a number of autistic-like characteristics, but children with high levels of prenatal alcohol exposure are at an increased risk for autism. One study found that as many as 72% of children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome also met criteria for autism.³ However, there are a number of differences between the two spectrum disorders. Below we have outlined some of the common characteristics associated with both FASD and ASD. We have italicized the similar characteristics shared between the two disorders. Please note that both FASD and ASD are spectrum disorders, meaning that each case is unique and people on either spectrum may display some, all, or none of these characteristics.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD):

• Affects about 1 in 20 children⁴
• One known cause: prenatal alcohol exposure⁵
• Lifelong effects ⁶
• Outcomes can be improved by early intervention⁷
• Sensitivity to light, touch, taste, smells, or sound ⁸
• Associated with microcephaly (a condition in which the baby’s head and brain are significantly smaller than expected)⁹
• Often comfortable initiating conversations and joining social activities¹⁰
• Difficulty with change in routines or transitioning from one task to another ¹¹
• Deficits with speech and language skills ¹²
• Hyperactivity ¹³
• Impulsivity ¹⁴
• Short attention span ¹⁵
• May have difficulty in school ¹⁶
• Listed as a medical condition in the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems)¹⁷
• Not included in the  American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD):

• Affects about 1 in 59 children¹⁸
• Has no single known cause¹⁹
• Lifelong effects²⁰
• Outcomes can be improved by early intervention ²¹
• Sensitivity to light, touch, taste, smells, or sound ²²
• Associated with macrocephaly (a condition in which the baby’s head is significantly larger than expected)²³
• Often avoid social situations²⁴
• Difficulty with change in routines or transitioning from one task to another²⁵
• Increased risk of epilepsy and seizures²⁶
• Deficits with speech and language skills²⁷
• Repeat words or phrases over and over (known as echolalia)²⁸
• Uses repetitive motions (such as flapping hands, rocking body, or spinning in circles)²⁹
• Hyperactivity ³⁰
• Impulsivity ³¹
• Short attention span ³²
• May have difficulty in school ³³
• Listed as a medical condition in the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) ³⁴
• Included in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)³⁵

Sources:

1. Redei EE, Zoeller RT. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and autism spectrum disorders share common molecular vulnerabilities. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-06/ace-fas060613.php
2. Geib EF. Neurodevelopmental disorders: an overview of autism spectrum disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. https://www.ihs.gov/telebehavioral/includes/themes/newihstheme/display_objects/documents/slides/nationalchildandadolescent/childneurodevfasd091217.pdf
3. Mukherjee RAS, Layton M, Yacoub E, Turk J. Autism and autistic traits in people exposed to heavy prenatal alcohol: Data from a clinical series of 21 individuals and nested case control study. Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities. 2011;5(1):42-49.
4. May et al. Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in 4 US Communities, JAMA. 2018;319 (5):474-482.
5. Burd L, Blair J, Dropps K. Prenatal alcohol exposure, blood alcohol concentrations and alcohol elimination rates for the mother, fetus and newborn. Journal of Perinatology. 2012;32(9):652-659.
6. Noor S, Milligan ED. Lifelong Impacts of Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Neuroimmune Function. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018.
7. Peadon E, Rhys-Jones B, Bower C, Elliott EJ. Systematic Review of Interventions for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. BMC Pediatrics. 2009;9(35).
8. Masotti P, Longstaffe S, Gammon H, Isbister J, Maxwell B, Hanlon-Dearman A. Integrating care for individuals with FASD: results from a multi-stakeholder symposium. BMC Health Services Research. 2015;15(1):1-12.
9. Treit S, Zhou D, Chudley AE, et al. Relationships between Head Circumference, Brain Volume and Cognition in Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(2):1-15.
10. Stevens SA, Nash K, Koren G, Rovet J. Autism characteristics in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Child Neuropsychology. 2013;19(6):579-587.
11. Millar JA, Thompson J, Schwab D, et al. Educating students with FASD: linking policy, research and practice. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. 2017;17(1):3-17.
12. Subramoney S, Eastman E, Adnams C, Stein DJ, Donald KA. The Early Developmental Outcomes of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: A Review. Frontiers in Neurology. 2018; 9(1108).
13. Peadon E, Elliott EJ. Distinguishing between attention-deficit hyperactivity and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in children: clinical guidelines. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2010;6:509–515.
14. Pei J, Leung WSW, Jampolsky F,  Alsbury B. Experiences in the Canadian criminal justice system for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Double jeopardy?. Canadian Journal of Criminology & Criminal Justice. 2016;58(1):56-86.
15. Gross AC, Deling LA, Wozniak JR, Boys CJ. Objective measures of executive functioning are highly discrepant with parent-report in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Child Neuropsychology. 2015;21(4): 531-538.
16. Glass L, Moore EM, Akshoomoff N, Jones KL, Riley EP, Mattson SN. Academic difficulties in children with prenatal alcohol exposure: Presence, profile, and neural correlates. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2017;41(5):1024-1034.
17. American Academy of Pediatrics. Fetal alcohol syndrome. https://www.aap.org/en-us/professional-resources/practice-transformation/getting-paid/Coding-at-the-AAP/Pages/Fetal-Alcohol-Syndrome.aspx
18. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data and statistics on autism spectrum disorder. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
19. Mayo Clinic. Autism spectrum disorder. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928
20. Autism Society. Autism through the lifespan. http://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/autism-through-the-lifespan/
21. National Autistic Society. Sensory differences. https://www.autism.org.uk/about/behaviour/sensory-world.aspx
22. Christensen D, Bilder D, Zahorodny W, et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among 4-Year-Old Children in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. 2016;37:1-8.
23. Klein S, Sharifi-Hannauer P, Martinez-Agosto JA. Macrocephaly as a clinical indicator of genetic subtypes in autism. Autism Res. 2013;6(1):51–56. doi:10.1002/aur.1266
24. Aksoy F aksoy. fnd@gmail. co. Severity Levels of Autism, Social Interaction Behaviours and School Adjustment of Pre-School Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education. 2018;10(1):1-10.
25. Indiana Resource Center for Autism. Transition time: Helping individuals on the autism spectrm move successfully from one activity to another. https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/transition-time-helping-individuals-on-the-autism-spectrum-move-successfully-from-one-activity-to-another
26. Besag FMC. Epilepsy in patients with autism: Links, risks and treatment challenges. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2018;14:1-10.
27. Yau SH, Brock J, McArthur G. The relationship between spoken language and speech and nonspeech processing in children with autism: a magnetic event-related field study. Developmental Science. 2016;19(5):834-852.
28. Grossi D, Marcone R, Cinquegrana T, Gallucci M. On the differential nature of induced and incidental echolalia in autism. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 2013;57(10):903-912.
29. Wolff JJ, Botteron KN, Dager SR, et al. Longitudinal patterns of repetitive behavior in toddlers with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2014;55:945-953.
30.  Karalunas SL, Hawkey E, Gustafsson H, et al. Overlapping and Distinct Cognitive Impairments in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity and Autism Spectrum Disorder without Intellectual Disability. Journal of abnormal child psychology. 2018;46(8):1705-1716.
31. Tureck K, Matson JL, Cervantes P, Turygin N. Autism severity as a predictor of inattention and impulsivity in toddlers. Developmental Neurorehabilitation. 2015;18(5):285-289.
32. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html
33. Hedges SH, Kirby AV, Sreckovic MA, et al. “Falling through the Cracks”: Challenges for High School Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The High School Journal. 2014;98:64-82.
34. National Collaborating Centre for Women’s and Children’s Health (UK). Autism: Recognition, Referral and Diagnosis of Children and Young People on the Autism Spectrum. London: RCOG Press; 2011 Sep. (NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 128.) Appendix I, Diagnostic criteria. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92974/
35. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Diagnostic criteria. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html

The only known cause of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is alcohol use during pregnancy.¹ If a pregnant person does not drink any alcohol throughout their entire pregnancy, their child will not be born with an FASD.

FASD cannot be “passed down” from a parent with an FASD, and it cannot be caused by a partner’s drinking. FASD can be prevented by not drinking any alcohol throughout pregnancy, from conception to birth.^2-6

Sources:

1. Fitzpatrick JP, Pestell CF. Neuropsychological Aspects of Prevention and Intervention for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Australia. Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology. 2017;3(1):38-52.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/alcohol-use.html
3. American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP Says No Amount of Alcohol Should Be Considered Safe During Pregnancy. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Says-No-Amount-of-Alcohol-Should-be-Considered-Safe-During-Pregnancy.aspx
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notice to Readers: Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5409a6.htm
5. National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Fetal Alcohol Exposure. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/fetal-alcohol-exposure
6. World Health Organization. Counting the Costs of Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy. https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/95/5/17-030517/en/

There currently is not a cure for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Because prenatal alcohol exposure alters the trajectory of brain development over the lifetime, the effects are lifelong.^1-4 Even drinking at low levels can affect development.⁵

However, everyone with an FASD has the ability to succeed. Strategies, support, and interventions can help reduce the long-term effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and improve outcomes, behavior, and well-being for people with an FASD.³ Early intervention is especially effective in decreasing the risk of adverse life outcomes.⁶

Learn more about living with an FASD or visit the Proof Alliance resource section.

Sources:

1. Noor S, Milligan ED. Lifelong Impacts of Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Neuroimmune Function. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018.
2. Burd L, Blair J, Dropps K. Prenatal alcohol exposure, blood alcohol concentrations and alcohol elimination rates for the mother, fetus and newborn. Journal of Perinatology. 2012;32(9):652-659.
3. Rodríguez JJ., Smith VC. Prenatal Opioid and Alcohol Exposure: Understanding Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders to Safeguard Maternal and Child Outcomes. Zero to Three. 2018;38(5):23-28.
4. Treit et al. Longitudinal MRI reveals altered trajectory of brain development during childhood and adolescence in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, Journal of Neuroscience. 2013;33(24):10098-109.
5. Terasaki LS, Schwarz JM. Impact of Prenatal and Subsequent Adult Alcohol Exposure on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in Brain Regions Necessary for Simple Recognition Memory. Brain Sciences (2076-3425). 2017;7(10):1-16
6. Peadon E, Rhys-Jones B, Bower C, Elliott EJ. Systematic Review of Interventions for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. BMC Pediatrics. 2009;9(35).