scholarly journals Transcriptomic changes due to early, chronic alcohol exposure during cortical development implicate regionalization, cell-type specification, synaptogenesis and WNT signaling as primary determinants of fetal alcohol Spectrum Disorders

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Máté Fischer ◽  
Praveen Chander ◽  
Huining Kang ◽  
Jason P. Weick
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Chronic Alcohol ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Fetal Alcohol ◽  
Chronic Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum ◽  
Type Specification

AbstractFetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are described by a cluster of deficits following in utero alcohol exposure, whose effects disproportionately target the cerebral cortex. In vitro and in vivo models of FASD have successfully recapitulated multiple facets of clinical presentations, including morphological and behavioral deficits, but far less is understood regarding the molecular and genetic bases of FASD. In this study, we utilize an in vitro human pluripotent stem cell-based (hPSC) model of corticogenesis to probe the effect of early, chronic alcohol exposure on the transcriptome of developing cortical neurons. We here identify a relatively limited number of significantly altered biological pathways, including regional patterning, cell-type specification, axon guidance and synaptic function. Significant upregulation of WNT signaling-related transcripts, to the exclusion of other secreted morphogens was also observed in alcohol exposed cultures. Lastly, an overall alcohol-associated shift towards an increased caudal profile, at the expense of rostral molecular identity was observed, representing a potentially previously underappreciated FASD phenotype.

scholarly journals Language Development Disorder in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), a Case Study

Languages ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Yuri E. Vega-Rodríguez ◽  
Elena Garayzabal-Heinze ◽  
Esther Moraleda-Sepúlveda
Keyword(s):  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Fetal Alcohol ◽  
Foster Home ◽  
Language Development Disorder ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause developmental damage in children. There are different types and ranges of alterations that fall under the name of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Disabilities in learning, cognition, and behavior are observed. Environmental conditions are an influencing factor in this population since they are generally adverse and are either not diagnosed at an early stage or given the appropriate support and approach. We present a case study of a 9-year-old child, in which all the variables affecting his development (FASD diagnosis and socioenvironmental conditions) were observed and analyzed. His early childhood under institutional care, the move to a foster home at the age of 6, and several measures of evaluation from foster care to the present are described. Difficulties in vocabulary, access to vocabulary, morphology, syntax, grammar, oral narrative, pragmatics, speech, and communication were observed, along with cognitive difficulties in memory, perception and executive functioning, social adaptation, learning, and behavior. An early diagnosis and approach enable this population to develop skills in different dimensions to address early adversity despite their neurological and behavioral commitment. Speech-language pathologist services are crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of the language and communication difficulties that characterize this syndrome.

scholarly journals Screening in treatment programs for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders that could affect therapeutic progress

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 37-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese M Grant ◽  
Natalie Novick Brown ◽  
J. Christopher Graham ◽  
Nancy Whitney ◽  
Dan Dubovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Cognitive Impairments ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Fetal Alcohol ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Grant, T., Novick Brown, N., Graham, J., Whitney, N., Dubovsky, D. , & Nelson, L. (2013). Screening in treatment programs for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders that could affect therapeutic progress. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 2(3), 37-49. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.116 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.116)Aims: While structured intake interviews are the standard of care in substance abuse treatment programs, these interviews often do not screen for cognitive impairments, such as those found in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and other brain-based developmental disorders. The research reported here supports a brief interview protocol, the Life History Screen (LHS), that screens clients unobtrusively for adverse life-course outcomes typically found in FASD, so as to guide follow-up assessments and treatment planning.Design: Two-group observational study.Setting: A three-year case management intervention program in Washington State for high-risk women who abuse alcohol and/or drugs during pregnancy.Participants: Group 1: No prenatal alcohol exposure (N = 463); Group 2: Diagnosed with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder, fetal alcohol effects, or static encephalopathy) by a qualified physician (N = 25), or suspected of having FASD (reported prenatal alcohol exposure and displayed behaviors consistent with a clinical diagnosis of FASD) (N = 61).Measures: The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was administered to participants at intake. We analyzed eleven ASI items that corresponded to questions on the LHS in order to assess the potential of the LHS for identifying adults with possible FASD. The Life History Screen itself was not administered.Findings: Analysis of group differences between the diagnosed FASD and suspected FASD groups supported our decision to collapse the two groups for the main analysis. The Life History Screen shows promise as an efficient pre-treatment screen, in that core items are significantly associated with FASD group membership on factors involving childhood history, maternal drinking, education, substance use, employment, and psychiatric symptomatology.Conclusions: The Life History Screen may have utility as a self-report measure that can be used at the outset of treatment to identify clients with cognitive impairments and learning disabilities due to prenatal alcohol exposure.

Behaviour and adaptive functioning in children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: a UK study

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 62-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari Sakano ◽  
Raja Mukherjee ◽  
Jeremy Turk
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Adaptive Functioning ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Fetal Alcohol ◽  
Birth Parents ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the profiles of behaviours and adaptive functioning in the UK children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Design/methodology/approach Data of 106 participants registered from 2005 to 2015 were extracted from a clinic database. In total, 99 individuals with confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), aged from 5 to 25 years, were analysed using scaled scores of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition (VABS-II), and the Developmental Behaviour Checklist-Primary Carer Version (DBC-P) and Teacher Version (DBC-T). Differences due to age, gender, IQ and family structure (adopted/living with birth parents) were also explored. Findings The mean composite adaptive behaviour score on the VABS-II was classified as “low” at 68.2 (SD=8.5), with the socialisation domain being the most impaired. Significantly lower VABS-II composite scores were found in individuals with lower IQ’s, older ages and in males. Disruptive behaviours were the most commonly observed on the DBCs, whereas primary carers scored significantly higher than teachers across all subscales. IQ, age and gender were not associated with the total percentile scores of both DBCs. Adoption made no differences compared to living with birth parents. Research limitations/implications Future studies would replicate these findings in a larger sample size including individuals without PAE and those living with birth parents. Originality/value This study is the first UK report that examines this issue.

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