Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure in a prospective sample of young adults: Mental health, substance use, and difficulties with the legal system

AbstractIt is well established that high-dose alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the risk for a plethora of adverse offspring outcomes. These include neurodevelopmental, cognitive and social deficits, as well as psychiatric illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. However, much less evidence is available on the effects of low- and early-dose alcohol exposure on mental health outcomes, regardless of the accumulating evidence that mental health outcomes should be considered in the context of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis. This review will discuss the evidence that indicates low-dose and early prenatal alcohol exposure can increase the risk of mental illness in offspring and discuss the mechanistic pathways that may be involved.

Download Full-text

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Gender Differences in Childhood Mental Health Problems: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.2006-1840 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 119 (2) ◽

pp. e426-e434 ◽

Cited By ~ 91

Author(s):

K. Sayal ◽

J. Heron ◽

J. Golding ◽

A. Emond

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Childhood Mental Health ◽

Prenatal Alcohol ◽

And Gender

Download Full-text

Intersection of Epigenetic and Immune Alterations: Implications for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Mental Health

Frontiers in Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnins.2021.788630 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Alexandre A. Lussier ◽

Tamara S. Bodnar ◽

Joanne Weinberg

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Immune System ◽

Immune Function ◽

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽

Prenatal Alcohol ◽

Epigenetic Patterns ◽

The Impact

Prenatal alcohol exposure can impact virtually all body systems, resulting in a host of structural, neurocognitive, and behavioral abnormalities. Among the adverse impacts associated with prenatal alcohol exposure are alterations in immune function, including an increased incidence of infections and alterations in immune/neuroimmune parameters that last throughout the life-course. Epigenetic patterns are also highly sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure, with widespread alcohol-related alterations to epigenetic profiles, including changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNA expression. Importantly, epigenetic programs are crucial for immune system development, impacting key processes such as immune cell fate, differentiation, and activation. In addition to their role in development, epigenetic mechanisms are emerging as attractive candidates for the biological embedding of environmental factors on immune function and as mediators between early-life exposures and long-term health. Here, following an overview of the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on immune function and epigenetic patterns, we discuss the potential role for epigenetic mechanisms in reprogramming of immune function and the consequences for health and development. We highlight a range of both clinical and animal studies to provide insights into the array of immune genes impacted by alcohol-related epigenetic reprogramming. Finally, we discuss potential consequences of alcohol-related reprogramming of immune/neuroimmune functions and their effects on the increased susceptibility to mental health disorders. Overall, the collective findings from animal models and clinical studies highlight a compelling relationship between the immune system and epigenetic pathways. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the long-term and multisystem effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, laying the groundwork for possible novel interventions and therapeutic strategies to treat individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol.

Download Full-text

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders – an Irish perspective

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0790966700001634 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. i-v ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nneka Orakwue ◽

Fiona McNicholas ◽

Kieran O'Malley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ◽

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Health Concern ◽

Service Development ◽

Prenatal Alcohol ◽

The Impact

The impact of prenatal alcohol exposure is far reaching and transgenerational but is largely under diagnosed. This has been a major public health concern but remains an area that has lacked attention with regards service development and research in Ireland. There is a need for mental health professionals to have a good working knowledge of the range of deficits associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Knowledge of these deficits will facilitate identification of affected children for early diagnosis and intervention. This paper reviews available literature on this topic using broad search criteria. The aim of this article is to create greater awareness among professionals working with children in Ireland considering the high rates of alcohol consumption and the fact that most cases of FASD present with chronic undiagnosed mental health problems.

Download Full-text