In the News | Emory School of Medicine

Properties of the Prefrontal Tracts and Cingulum Bundle in Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
ScienceDirect - 9/26/2024
Prenatal alcohol exposure significantly impacts brain structure and function, including cognition and behavior.

FASD Awareness Month 2024
FASD United - 9/4/2024
Every September, the FASD community gathers and gains momentum to advocate and educate in support of those living with FASD and those who care for them.

Red Shoes Gala
FASD United - 9/1/2024
The Red Shoes Gala is an event that sparks excitement and support for the FASD community, and, as our largest fundraising event of the year, for the work of FASD United.

In Memoriam: Kenneth R. Warren, PhD
NIH - 8/27/2024
With great sadness, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism shares the news that Kenneth R. Warren, PhD, passed away on August 21, 2024.

Deep Learning for Detecting Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in Pediatric Brain MRI: a Transfer Learning Approach with Explainability Insights
Frontiers - 8/25/2024
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.

A Population-Based Study on Women Who Used Alcohol during Pregnancy and Their Neonates in Ontario, Canada
NIH - 8/15/2024
Data from birth registries can be studied to assess the prevalence of prenatal alcohol use and associated maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Identifying and Responding to fetal alcohol Spectrum disorder in Child and Family Health
NIH - 8/13/2024
Developmental outcomes for children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are optimised if their needs are identified early.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention and Clinical Guidelines Research
NIH - 8/7/2024
It is estimated that up to 1 in 20 people in the United States may have a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or the array of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social disorders caused by exposure to alcohol during prenatal development.

Best Practices and Lessons Learned From the Public Health Disability Specialists Program: Addressing the Needs of People With Disabilities During COVID-19
JPHMP - 8/1/2024
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the National Association of County and City Health Officials applied funding issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to implement the Public Health Disability Specialists Program, part of a project to address the needs of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Validation of the ND-PAE Diagnosis in Children with Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
NIH - 7/31/2024
This study evaluated criteria for neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.

U.S. Adolescents’ Exposure to Alcohol Marketing: Self-Reported Exposure on the Internet and Traditional Media
AJPM Focus - 7/25/2024
Youth exposure to alcohol marketing is a risk factor for underage drinking. In the U.S., research documents the impact of youth exposure to alcohol marketing through traditional media on underage drinking, with less known about digital alcohol marketing exposure.

The Scope of Supportive Housing for Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: a Rapid Review
Taylor & Francis Online - 7/23/2024
Many individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder face challenges accessing suitable housing support, which increases the likelihood of adverse outcomes and daily living difficulties that can persist throughout adulthood.

In Remembrance of FASD Self-Advocate Liz Kulp
FASD United - 7/15/2024
It is with profound sadness that we share with the community the passing of Liz Kulp, a beloved FASD self-advocate.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Resources for Health Professionals: a Scoping Review
NIH - 7/13/2024
This scoping review aimed to identify and critically appraise resources for health professionals to identify, diagnose, refer and support individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, including the extent to which the resources are appropriate for use in communities with First Nations Peoples.

Alcohol Exposure on Cognitive Development
MotherToBaby - 7/11/2024
MotherToBaby seminar review of the article by Jacobson, et al. “A dose-response analysis of the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on cognitive development.” Keywords: drinking, pregnancy, dose, amount per occasion, frequency, binge, surface plot.

From Adoption to Advocacy: Carl Young's Personal Fight in the FASD Arena
FASD Podcast - 7/8/2024
In this deeply insightful episode of Living with FASD, host Patti Kasper is joined by Mr. Carl Young, an advocate and parent from North Dakota, who brings a wealth of personal experience and passion to the conversation on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Identification and Assessment of Undiagnosed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Report of Three Cases
NIH - 7/1/2024
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and its associated physical and mental conditions is the most prevalent congenital impairment causing developmental and intellectual disability worldwide.

Chronic Paternal Alcohol Exposures Induce Dose-Dependent Changes in Offspring Craniofacial Shape and Symmetry
Frontiers - 6/30/2024
Although dose-response analyses are a fundamental tool in developmental toxicology, few studies have examined the impacts of toxicant dose on the non-genetic paternal inheritance of offspring disease and dysgenesis.

Maternal Alcohol Drinking Patterns Predict Offspring Neurobehavioral Outcomes
NIH - 6/13/2024
The timing, rate, and quantity of gestational alcohol consumption, collectively referred to here as Maternal Drinking Patterns (MDPs), are of known importance to fetal developmental outcomes. However, few studies have directly evaluated the impact of MDPs on offspring behavior.

NIAAA Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2024-2028
NIAAA - 6/5/2024
The cross-cutting research themes provide a lens for examining high-priority topics that span two or more of the Research Goals and other areas of the Strategic Plan.

Developmental Outcomes after Opioid Exposure in the Fetus and Neonate
NeoReview - 6/1/2024
The overall prevalence of opiate use has been increasing, currently affecting approximately 0.6% of the global population and resulting in a significant proportion of infants being born with prenatal opioid exposure.

Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and its Impact on Reward Processing and Substance Use in Adulthood
Translational Psychiatry - 5/28/2024
Heavy maternal alcohol drinking during pregnancy has been associated with altered neurodevelopment in the child but the effects of low-dose alcohol drinking are less clear and any potential safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy is not known.

Alcohol Use Disorder and Dementia: A Review
PubMed - 5/23/2024
By 2040, 21.6% of Americans will be over age 65, and the population of those older than age 85 is estimated to reach 14.4 million

Effects of Developmental Timing on Cognitive and Behavioral Profiles in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Considerations for Education
MDPI - 5/22/2024
Associations and families demand the need to raise awareness of the implications in the cognitive and behavioral development of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder that affect their learning and school participation.

An Examination of Executive Functioning in Adolescents with FASD in a Self-Regulation Intervention
NIH - 5/15/2024
Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder often have challenges with executive functioning, which impacts their ability to self-regulate.

"Taking Part in the Project has Really Changed Our Experience as a Family" Investigating Parents' Experience of Participation in a Study to Screen for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
NIH - 5/15/2024
Screening children for developmental disorders presents unique ethical and methodological challenges, particularly with disorders associated with high levels of shame and stigma.

Adaptive, Externalizing, and Internalizing Behavior of Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: A Comparison of Three Parent-Report Questionnaires
Development Neuropsychology - 5/14/2024
This study compared the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Third Edition to the Child Behavior Checklist and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Third Edition in children with and without histories of prenatal alcohol exposure.

What is the FASD Respect Act?
FASD United - 5/14/2024
This bill will continue the work done in the 117th Congress by thousands of advocates and lawmakers to pass meaningful legislation that will positively impact the lives of people diagnosed with FASD or prenatal substance exposure.

Prevalence of Co-Occurring Diagnoses in People Exposed to Alcohol Prenatally: Findings from a Meta-Analysis
NIH - 5/7/2024
Individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure commonly experience co-occurring diagnoses, which are often overlooked and misdiagnosed and have detrimental impacts on accessing appropriate services.

Reporting on Health Care and Social Service Provider Approaches to Promoting Alcohol Abstinence During Pregnancy
NIH - 5/7/2024
Despite the known detrimental health effects of alcohol use during pregnancy, there are still health care and social service providers who do not promote complete abstinence.

Influence of Childhood Trauma and Traumatic Stress on a Woman's Risk of Having a Child with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Wiley Online Library - 5/3/2024
Maternal risk factors for having a child diagnosed on the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders continuum are complex and include not only the quantity, frequency and timing of alcohol use but also a woman's physical stature, socio-economic status and pregnancy-related factors.

Advancing Social Work Curriculum to Challenge FASD-Related Stigma and Promote Strengths-Based Family Engagement
Taylor & Francis Online - 5/3/2024
The need for professionals to become educated in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder has emerged as a critical topic in child and family settings.

The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders-An Overview of Experimental Models, Therapeutic Strategies, and Future Research Directions
NIH - 4/28/2024
Since the establishment of a clear link between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and certain birth defects, the research into the treatment of FASD has become increasingly sophisticated.

Screening and Identification of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Criminal Legal Settings: A Realist Review
NIH - 4/25/2024
Screening for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) has been identified as a promising approach to improve recognition, understanding and effective response to the unique needs of those with FASD in criminal legal settings.

Prenatal Substance Exposure Workshop for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parents
Creating a Family - 4/17/2024
Creating a Family offers this evidence-based, trauma-informed workshop to help parents recognize the signs and symptoms of prenatal substance exposure and train them on techniques that work best with these kids.

Machine Learning Approaches to the Identification of Children Affected by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
NIH - 4/1/2024
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) affect at least 0.8% of the population globally. The diagnosis of FASD is uniquely complex, with a heterogeneous physical and neurobehavioral presentation that requires multidisciplinary expertise for diagnosis.

Dose–Response Effect of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Perinatal Outcomes
Wiley Online Library - 3/30/2024
A better understanding of the effects of lower levels of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), as a common exposure, is needed. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of mild–moderate PAE and episodic binge drinking on perinatal outcomes.

Low to Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Neurodevelopment in a Prospective Cohort of Early School Aged Children
Nature - 3/27/2024
Evidence is strong for adverse fetal effects of high level or chronic prenatal alcohol exposure, but many pregnant women continue to drink at lower levels.

Take the FASDs Quiz
AAP/CDC - 3/18/2024
Test your knowledge of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Psychological Care for Individuals with FASD: a Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory Perspective Toward Improving Prevention, Assessment/Diagnosis and Intervention
Frontiers - 3/12/2024
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are among the most common neurodevelopmental disorders and substantially impact public health.

COVID-19 Pandemic–Related Changes in Rates of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
JAMA Network Open - 3/8/2024
Although opioid overdose deaths increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) have not been adequately studied.

The Impact of Oxidative Stress on the Epigenetics of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
PrePrints - 3/7/2024
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) represent a continuum of lifelong impairments resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol, with significant global impact.

Underrepresented Caregivers in Research on Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Springer Link - 3/4/2024
Families of children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are diverse, raising children through birth, adoption or fostering, including kinship care.

Teachers' Needs for an FASD-Informed Resource: a Qualitative Interview Needs Assessment Based on the ADAPT-ITT Framework
NIH - 3/1/2024
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders represent a wide range of neurodevelopmental differences associated with prenatal alcohol exposure and are highly prevalent.

Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use
CDC - 2/29/2024
Deaths from causes fully attributable to alcohol use have increased during the past two decades in the United States, particularly from 2019 to 2020, concurrent with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Actions to Prevent and Identify Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders to be Implemented in General Practice: A Consensus
NIH - 2/5/2024
Fetal alcohol exposure is the most common preventable cause of non-genetic intellectual disability.

Machine Learning Approaches to the Identification of Children Affected by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Wiley Online Library - 2/1/2024
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders affect at least 0.8% of the population globally.

"It's a Learning Curve Throughout Your Entire Life": Experiences and Impact of FASD in Adolescence Explored in Online Photovoice Research
NIH - 1/30/2024
Research into the lived experience and disability of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is sparse in adolescence, despite its relevance to supports and life outcomes.

Developmental, Sensory and Behavioral Outcomes Among Infants and Toddlers with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
ScienceDirect - 1/22/2024
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can disrupt children’s neurodevelopment and exert lasting influences on overall child well-being and family functioning.

Stigma and Self-Stigma Among Women Within the Context of the German "Zero Alcohol During Pregnancy" Recommendation: A Qualitative Analysis of Online Forums and Blogs
NIH - 1/18/2024
In many countries, including Germany, it is recommended to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy to avoid harm to the baby.

Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder in Children
MDPI - 1/16/2024
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is commonly misdiagnosed because of the complexity of presentation and multiple diagnostic criteria.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: an Exploratory Telehealth Pilot Group Intervention for Caregivers
Taylor & Francis Online - 1/4/2024
The Family Foundations: Behavioral, Emotional, Social, and Team-Based [B.E.S.T.] program is a novel trauma-informed intervention for caregivers of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders to address emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems.

FASD National Partner Network Toolkit
FASD National Partner Network - 1/2/2024
Through the National Partnerships to Address Prenatal Alcohol and Other Substance Use and FASDs, CDC funded nine organizations to build a national partner network.