EUFASD 2022–Call for Abstracts is Open!

The sixth European Conference on FASD will take place on September 12 to 14, 2022, with a pre-conference training day on 11 September. We hope to hold the conference in-person in Arendal, Norway, but if that is not possible, the conference will take place online, so reserve the dates. For full information, see www.eufasd.org . The Call for Abstracts is open via the website. The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2022.

The BMJ (UK/Australia) – Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: following Australia’s example
Aiton describes the UK government’s needs assessment for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) as “a wake-up call to a wide range of health professionals.”
https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o279

University of Queensland (Australia) – Funding boost for UQ FASD program to slash waiting times
Queensland children affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will soon have earlier access to additional diagnostic and support services, which could give them better long-term outcomes.
https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2022/01/funding-boost-uq-fasd-program-slash-waiting-times-4

Irish Examiner (Ireland) – FASD: Pointing out the dangers of alcohol in the womb
A blank canvas of possibility lies ahead of most children when they are born. But for some, that canvas has already been filled in in the early days of pregnancy, according to those with experience of children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40802106.html

CBC (Canada) – There are about 320 N.S. kids born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder each year. They deserve more support
“When I first moved here, it seemed like no one had even heard of FASD.” That’s what Dr. Robert McInerney, a neuropsychologist from Halifax, told me as we talked about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/opinion-piece-ns-fasd-1.6335621

Newswires (USA) – HHS Announces New Reports and Grant Program Addressing the Health Needs of Pregnant Women and Children Affected by Substance Use
A new series of reports from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on substance-exposed pregnancies highlights how pregnant and postpartum women who use substances and their children can benefit from evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies.
https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/562266960/hhs-announces-new-reports-and-grant-program-addressing-the-health-needs-of-pregnant-women-and-children-affected-by-substance-use

Vancouver Sun (Canada) – Parents say new model to support B.C. kids with disabilities ‘misses the mark’
Glen Hoos remembers being denied provincial funding to support his son, who has several rare disabilities, after a “long, stressful” process.
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/parents-say-new-model-to-support-b-c-kids-with-disabilities-misses-the-mark

Drymester (UK) – WE’RE EXCITED TO BE LAUNCHING A NEW INITIATIVE TO WORKPLACES
This month, we’re proud to be launching a new initiative to workplaces across Greater Manchester, to help lead the way in supporting healthy pregnancies.
https://www.drymester.org.uk/were-excited-to-be-launching-a-new-initiative-to-workplaces/

Frostededucation – FASD: Nova Scotia’s Hidden Pandemic.
A few months ago, I had a chance encounter with a student who presented many of the outwards signs of having Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or FASD.
https://frostededucation.com/2022/02/12/fasd-nova-scotias-hidden-pandemic-3/

Saltwire (Canada) – GRANT FROST: Nova Scotia woefully unprepared for fetal-alcohol tsunami
“No one sets out to intentionally harm their children.” Those words were spoken to me by Dr. Robert McInerney, a neuropsychologist from Halifax. McInerney worked in several provinces before settling in Nova Scotia in 2008, and his clinic offers a variety of standard services, including therapy, teaching and assessment.
https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/opinion/grant-frost-nova-scotia-woefully-unprepared-for-fetal-alcohol-tsunami-100688569/

Quirking It – MYTH OR REALITY…
A pregnant woman drinking a glass of wine or 1 beer a day is ok throughout her pregnancy?
https://adultingwithfasdcoms.com/

CanFASD blog – Internet Safety for People with FASD
Tuesday February 8th was Safer Internet Day (SID). Every year in February, organizations come together to make the online world a safer place for children and young people. This year’s theme is: Together for a better internet.
https://canfasd.ca/2022/02/11/internet-safety-for-people-with-fasd/

ABC (Australia) – Babytalk: Why you need to stop drinking before you get pregnant
The latest medical research shows there is no safe limit for drinking when pregnant. All it takes is a few drinks at the wrong stage of the pregnancy for the mother’s unborn baby to suffer permanent brain damage. And it’s possible that Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the leading non-genetic developmental disability in Australia.
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/babytalk/babytalk-quit-alcohol-before-youre-pregnant/13733250?utm_source=Socials&utm_medium=Twitter,+Facebook+Instagram&utm_campaign=Babytalk

CanFASD – Optimizing Employment Opportunities and Outcomes for People with FASD
Meaningful and fulfilling employment can help people develop a positive identify, self-esteem, and self-worth. For people with FASD, consistent employment can also be a protective factor against some secondary outcomes associated with FASD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmpMmMkU2ys&t=1s

FASDHub Scotland – Understanding FASD – a webinar from FASD Hub Scotland held as part of Adoption Week Scotland 2021
Join FASD Hub Scotland and our panel of those with lived and/or professional experience of FASD as we cover the FASD basics and answer attendees questions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ6APiEn4rI

FASD Special Interest Group – FASD Research Roundup
In this webinar Ed Riley and Christie Petrenko discuss recent research studies and their contribution to our knowledge and understanding of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwl585Po3-k

Fasd Success Show – #095 (DiG)ging into FASD & Genetics
Join me and my co-host, Barb Clark, as we talk with Abigail Erickson, Dr. Leah Wetherill, and Jeanine Schulze, part of DiG FASD, a fetal alcohol research study at the Indiana University School of Medicine about FASD and Genetics.
https://www.fasdsuccess.com/blog/podcast-episode-095

Spotlight on FASD – Podcast Season 4, Episode 9 – Genetics & FASD
This week we are joined by Researchers from Indiana University’s School of Medicine, whose work seeks to understand more about how genetics play a role in the impact and presentation of FASD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZX8Kr18qkk

Fasd Success Show – #094 Pascal Gagné: FASD and Sexuality
Few topics can divide people or make them so uncomfortable that they don’t talk about them. Sexuality is one of them. It is so stigmatized. It isn’t talked about enough. Ignoring the reality won’t make it go away, says Pascal Gagné, my guest on today’s show.  https://www.fasdsuccess.com/blog/podcast-episode-094

ASPE – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Research Briefs
These briefs were prepared under contract #HHSP233201600021I between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy and RTI International. https://aspe.hhs.gov/fasd-research-briefs

FASDHub Scotland – Partners In Advocacy Webinar – 02.02.22
Join FASD Hub Scotland and Partners in Advocacy as we hear how advocacy services can support young people with ASN in education, and care-experienced children and young people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA-Y-9-0gMA

Pharmacology Biochemistry and behavior – Age-dependent effects of embryonic ethanol exposure on anxiety-like behaviours in young zebrafish: A genotype comparison study
We found embryonic ethanol induced behavioural changes to significantly differ depending on the genotype and age of observation.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305722000211

Alcohol – The Effects of Gestational Choline Supplementation on Cerebellar Purkinje Cell Number In the Sheep Model of Binge Alcohol Exposure During the First Trimester-Equivalvent
Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) incur enduring brain damage and neurodevelopmental impairments from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0741832922000039

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research – Evidence for long-lasting alterations in the fecal microbiota following prenatal alcohol exposure
Taken together, these results show for the first time that PAE has a long-lasting and sex-specific impact on the fecal microbiota with further research needed such the microbiota could be considered in the development of new interventions in FASD.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/acer.14784

Current Developmental Disorders Reports – A Family-Directed Approach for Supporting Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Specialist services for children with FASD and their families are significantly limited around the world.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40474-021-00241-1

Substance Abuse – MIRRORS program: Helping pregnant and postpartum women and families with substance use problems
Outcomes indicate that the MIRRORS program was effective in improving family functioning and reducing substance use, thus enhancing women’s functioning and recovery.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08897077.2021.2010254

Stroke – Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Worsens Stroke Outcomes In Young Rats And Exacerbates Brain Damage In Ischemic Middle-aged Rats
The present findings support the hypothesis that PAE contributes to adverse effects on stroke outcome as indicated by greater mortality and poor neurological function in young rats, which is exacerbated by age during the acute phase.
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/str.53.suppl_1.WMP109

Nutrition Reviews – Effects of nutrition and gestational alcohol consumption on fetal growth and development
In summary, the deleterious effects of alcohol exposure in relation to nutrient homeostasis further validate that avoidance of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is the most effective way to mitigate the teratogenic effects of alcohol.
https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/nutrit/nuab119/6517204