Rffada

 

Rffada acknowledges and thanks the work of EUFASD in sourcing and compiling international research.

Research

IJPDS – Identifying substance misuse related foetal anomaly cases in routinely collected data
A novel method to identify SM-related foetal anomaly cases using routinely collected data in Wales is provided. The published code to identify mothers and children exposed to SM-related events can also be reused in future projects.
https://ijpds.org/article/view/2789

Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology – Drinking even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy could alter fetal brain structure
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can affect fetal brain development, as seen in temporal brain asymmetry detected by fetal MRI.
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/uog.27788

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities – Integrated service delivery for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
This study may help to inform a roadmap for enhancing FASD service delivery and guiding FASD research and policy in Canada and beyond.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jar.13277

Multidisciplinary Reviews – A lifespan perspective on fetal alcohol syndrome: Developmental challenges and outcomes
This disorder represents the intersection of complicated societal, community, family, and biological circumstances that increase the risk for intergenerational suffering, health disparity, and social injustice.
https://malque.pub/ojs/index.php/mr/article/view/5512

Brain Communications – Subcortical volume in middle-aged adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Studies of youth and young adults with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) have most consistently reported reduced volumes of the corpus callosum, cerebellum and subcortical structures.
https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/6/5/fcae273/7748169

University of Guelph – Guilty Pleas in Youth and Young Adults with and without Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Overall, findings highlight the importance of developmentally-informed plea practices for youth, and suggest young adults may require more support throughout this process than previously thought.
https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/3517fe89-b2ce-4f50-85e2-26ec35117a68

Disabilities and Autism: Ethics and Practice – Ethical Considerations Arising in the Assessment, Treatment, and Support of Individuals and Families Living with FASD
This chapter discusses the ethical challenges associated with crafting effective and non-stigmatizing public health messaging about FASD, issues of mother-blame and the villainizing of women who consume alcohol in pregnancy, and an overview of some of the ethical considerations in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and support of individuals and families living with FASD.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-61565-8_30

Laurier – Exploring the Transition from Childhood to Adulthood for Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Previous research has demonstrated that adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) often lack support after reaching 18 years old because they are no longer eligible for the support they receive as children.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2692/

Western University – Improving the Educational Experience of Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is recognized as one of the leading causes of developmental disability in the Western world (Flannigan et al., 2018). Its prevalence is estimated at 4% of the population.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/oip/404/

Drug and Alcohol Dependence – Administratively reported fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in commercially- and Medicaid-insured samples of children in the United States, 2015 – 2021
Although an underestimate of the true population of children with FASDs, patterns in administratively reported FASDs by demographics were consistent with previous studies.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871624013450

Substance Use & Addiction Journal – Answering a Call to Action: Reducing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Using a Healthcare Champion Model
Through the advocacy, education, and mission of these 6 health sectors in collaboration with national organizations and educational institutions, the evidence-based approach of alcohol SBI is being disseminated throughout the United States to reduce the harmful effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/29767342241271361

Paediatrics and Child Health – Drugs and alcohol in pregnancy: what a paediatrician needs to know, how to ask and why it matters
This article will explore the immediate and long-term impact of exposure to these substances in pregnancy and consider how to obtain an accurate history of exposure to drugs and alcohol in pregnancy as part of standard paediatric history taking.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1751722224001392

bioRxiv – Longitudinal mapping of cortical change during early adolescence associated with prenatal tobacco and/or alcohol exposure in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM Study
Cortical thickness (mm) and cortical surface area (mm2) measured approximately 2 years apart in early adolescence, across 68 bilateral cortical regions.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.610335v1.abstract

Research – EUFASD 18 Aug 2024

Disability and Health Journal – Fetal alcohol syndrome and population level health care usage in British Columbia, Canada
These findings indicate that youth with FAS require urgent attention for each of the medically-related variables included in this study. The need for attention to their health care needs may increase as these youth transition from pediatric to adult health care services.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1936657424001237
Drug and Alcohol Review – Identifying and responding to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in child and family health: Lessons from an exploratory mixed methods study
Health workers in this study requested high-quality training and the development of FASD practice guidelines to improve role clarity and clinical impact when working with FASD populations.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/dar.13917
Gene – Genetic admixture predictors of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in a South African population
Our findings indicate that the SACC population may be a valuable asset to identify novel disease-associated genetic loci for FASD and other diseases.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378111924007352
bioRxiv – Ethanol exposure model in zebrafish causes phenotypic, behavioral and gene expression changes that mimic Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in human birth cohorts
We conclude that the zebrafish model effectively mimics several FASD phenotypes observed in humans, confirming gene expression changes we have previously documented in a human observational study and providing a valuable platform for exploring the underlying mechanisms of alcohol-induced embryonic alterations and for developing diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for early intervention.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.05.606708v1.abstract
Children – First Description of a Large Clinical Series of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Children and Adolescents in Reunion Island, France
Children with FASDs combine significant vulnerabilities, associating exposure to alcohol during the preconception and/or the prenatal period, prematurity, complex familial and sociocultural living conditions, and a genetic anomaly in almost a quarter of cases.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/8/955
OSF – FASD: Where we have come from, trends, and future directions
People with FASD have many strengths, which are often overlooked in research. They have been described as skilled musicians, artists and sportspeople with wide vocabularies who are resilient, compassionate, hardworking, and kind. Increasing attention is being paid to FASD but this is not enough.
https://osf.io/preprints/osf/qxuh3
The American Journal of Occupational Therapy – Knowledge of Occupational Therapists in Child Development Units: Implications for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment
This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of Occupational Therapists (OTs) in child development units about dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the characteristics of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
https://research.aota.org/ajot/article/78/Supplement_2/7811500198p1/25452
bioRxiv – Deliberative Behaviors and Prefrontal-Hippocampal Coupling are Disrupted in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Together, these findings indicate that third trimester AE disrupts mPFC-HPC oscillatory interactions and choice behaviors.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.07.28.605480v1.abstract
BMJ Journals – Initial health assessments of children looked after: health needs snapshot with emphasis on risk of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders
The survey provided a valuable snapshot of the local CLA population which will support the commissioning of services. It highlighted the need for ongoing data capture of health issues. A particular spotlight was thrown on the lack of easily available information on PAE and a consistent diagnostic and management pathway for FASD.
https://adc.bmj.com/content/109/Suppl_1/A54.abstract
Adler University – The Prevalence and Association of Biopsychosocial Factors With Maternal Alcohol Use During Pregnancy in Canada: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
Research on FASD prevalence varies widely between countries, highlighting the need for country-specific data to inform effective alcohol legislation. In Canada, prevalence estimates are outdated, necessitating an update.
https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/services/services-libraries/theses/Pages/item.aspx?idNumber=1449998459
Children – A Population-Based Study on Women Who Used Alcohol during Pregnancy and Their Neonates in Ontario, Canada
It is crucial to routinely screen childbearing-age and pregnant women for alcohol and other substance use as well as mental health problems in order to prevent adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/8/993
Substance Use & Addiction Journal – Cross-Site Evaluation of Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Implementation Programs in Healthcare Systems Serving Individuals of Reproductive Age
Maximizing the use of technology, employing flexibility in program delivery, and institutionalizing processes and protocols improved workflow, efficiency, and program reach.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/29767342241267074
Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience – Prenatal Tobacco and Alcohol Exposure, White Matter Microstructure, and Early Language Skills in Toddlers from a South African Birth Cohort
Tobacco and alcohol are the two most common substances used during pregnancy, and both can disrupt neurodevelopment, resulting in cognitive and behavioural deficits including language difficulties. Previous studies show that children with prenatal substance exposure exhibit microstructural alterations in major white matter pathways, though few studies have investigated the impact of prenatal substance exposure on white matter microstructure and language skills during the toddler years.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/integrative-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnint.2024.1438888/abstract
Alcohol – The Effects of Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Performance in Hippocampal-Sensitive Spatial Memory and Anxiety Tasks by Adult Male and Female Rat Offspring
The results suggest that moderate prenatal alcohol exposure does not have a considerable effect on retention of spatial information, but produces a general reduction in anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus-maze.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0741832924001137
Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience – Deep Learning for Detecting Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in Pediatric Brain MRI: A Transfer Learning Approach with Explainability Insights
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) refers to the exposure of the developing fetus due to alcohol consumption during pregnancy and can have life-long consequences for learning, behavior, and health.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/computational-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncom.2024.1434421/abstract
Drug and Alcohol Review – Screening and early intervention for substance use during pregnancy: A retrospective case note review of antenatal care records
Despite longstanding recommendations, screening and intervention practices for substance use appear inconsistent. With the recent emergence of vaping, no evidence of updated approaches to identifying e-cigarette consumption in pregnant women was found.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dar.13927
OSF – Contextualized Effects of Maternal Cannabis During Pregnancy on Childhood Alcohol Sipping in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Project
PCE effects on adolescent alcohol sipping are indirect and are confounded with maternal behaviors before and during pregnancy.
https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/qb5zv
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs – The relationship between alcohol availability and drink-driving policies and admissions to substance use disorder treatment during pregnancy
Restrictions on grocery store spirits sales and BAC laws were associated with lower and higher alcohol treatment admission rates among pregnant people, respectively, suggesting general population alcohol policies are relevant for pregnant people’s treatment utilization.
https://www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.15288/jsad.23-00414
Substance Use & Addiction Journal – Identifying Patients at Risk for Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies: The Importance of Addressing Multiple Risk Factors
There is a need for system modifications to assess multiple behaviors simultaneously and alert providers when a combination of behaviors increases a specific health risk, such as an AEP.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/29767342241267086
Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research – The international prevalence of prenatal alcohol use obtained via meconium biomarkers: A systematic literature review
This review assesses both the international prevalence of PAU obtained using meconium biomarkers in general maternity populations and, when feasible, the level of agreement between meconium biomarkers and self-reported PAU.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acer.15410
Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research – Trends in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder research: A bibliometric review of original articles published between 2000 and 2023
FASD remains considerably under-researched. While there has been an increase in the number of original FASD research articles published annually over time, this is much lower than expected compared to publication trends for other neurodevelopmental conditions, and the wider scientific literature.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39118285/
Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research – Assessing and supporting children and young people with probable or diagnosed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: The experience of clinicians working within child and adolescent mental health services
This model provides new insights into the barriers and facilitators CAMHS clinicians experience when assessing and supporting CYP with probable or diagnosed FASD, highlighting key clinical implications.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39138612/


Research – EUFASD News 11 Feb 2024

Advances in Pediatric Research – Washington and Alaska Statewide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinical Networks: Comparison of Three Decades of 4-Digit Code

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26 Nov 2023

Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice – Bound by Blame: Sentencing, Colonialism, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderGladue and Ipeelee send important messages to

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12 Nov 2023

Gladue and Ipeelee send important messages to judges, but messages that have tensions within them that reflect the broader tensions of using

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23 Oct 2023

Journal of Language and Communication Disorders – Comparing narrative storytelling ability in individuals with autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disordersWhile many aspects of

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8 Nov 2023

Human brain mapping – Examining the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on performance of the sustained attention to response task in children with

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14 August 2023

Europe PMC – Protecting the future child: Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, easy rescue and the regulation of maternal behaviourThis paper argues that social

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