scholarly journals Early School Years follow up of the Asking Questions in Alcohol Longitudinal Study in Melbourne, Australia (AQUA at 6): Cohort profile

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyne Muggli ◽  
Jane Halliday ◽  
Elizabeth Elliott ◽  
Anthony Penington ◽  
Deanne K Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Neuropsychological Functioning ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Early School ◽  
Asking Questions ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The Asking Questions about Alcohol in Pregnancy (AQUA) study, established in 2011, is a pre-birth cohort of 1570 mother and child pairs designed to assess the effects of low to moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and sporadic binge drinking on long-term child development. The current follow-up of the children, now aged 6 to 8 years, aims to strengthen our understanding of the relationship between these levels of prenatal alcohol exposure and neuropsychological functioning, facial dysmorphology, and brain structure & function. Findings to date Over half (59%) of mothers consumed some alcohol during pregnancy, with one in five reporting at least one binge drinking episode prior to pregnancy recognition. Children's craniofacial shape was examined at 12 months of age, and low to moderate prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with subtle midface changes. At two years of age, formal developmental assessments showed no evidence that cognitive, language or motor outcome was associated with any of the prenatal alcohol exposures investigated. Participants Between June 2018 and April 2021, 802 of the 1342 eligible AQUA study families completed a parent-report questionnaire (60%). Restrictions associated with COVID-19 pandemic disrupted recruitment, but early school-age neuropsychological assessments were undertaken with 696 children (52%), and 482 (36%) craniofacial images were collected. A pre-planned, exposure-representative subset of 146 random children completed a brain MRI. The existing AQUA study biobank was extended through collection of 427 (32%) child buccal swabs. Future plans We will investigate the relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and specific aspects of neurodevelopment at 6-8 years, including brain structure & function. We will also determine whether craniofacial changes identified at 12 months of age are predictive of later developmental impairments. The contribution of genetics and epigenetics to individual variations in outcomes will be examined in conjunction with established and future national and international collaborations.

scholarly journals Understanding specific effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on brain structure in young adults

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1663-1676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangchuan Chen ◽  
Claire D. Coles ◽  
Mary E. Lynch ◽  
Xiaoping Hu
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol

scholarly journals White Matter Alterations in Young Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Preeti Kar ◽  
Jess E. Reynolds ◽  
Melody N. Grohs ◽  
W. Ben Gibbard ◽  
Carly McMorris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
The Body ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Pyramidal Tracts ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can lead to cognitive, behavioural, and social-emotional challenges. Previous neuroimaging research has identified alterations to brain structure in newborns, older children, adolescents, and adults with PAE; however, little is known about brain structure in young children. Extensive brain development takes place during early childhood; therefore, understanding the neurological profiles of young children with PAE is critical for early identification and effective intervention. We studied 54 children (5.21 +/- 1.11 years; 27 males) with confirmed PAE compared to 54 age- and sex-matched children without PAE. Children underwent diffusion tensor imaging between 2 and 7 years of age. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained for 10 major white matter tracts, along with tract volume, axial and radial diffusivity (AD, RD). A univariate analysis of covariance was conducted to test for group differences (PAE vs. control) controlling for age, sex and tract volume. Our results reveal white matter microstructural differences between young children with PAE and unexposed controls. The PAE group had higher FA and/or lower MD (as well as lower AD and RD) in the genu and the body of the corpus callosum, as well as the bilateral uncinate fasciculus and pyramidal tracts. Our findings align with studies of newborns with PAE finding lower AD, but contrast those in older populations with PAE, which consistently report lower FA and higher MD. These findings may reflect premature development of white matter that may then plateau too early, leading to the lower FA/higher MD observed at older ages.

scholarly journals Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Ability, Academic Achievement, and School Functioning in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Follow-Up

2005 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen K. Howell ◽  
Mary Ellen Lynch ◽  
Kathleen A. Platzman ◽  
G. Harold Smith ◽  
Claire D. Coles
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
School Functioning ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol

scholarly journals A DTI-based tractography study of effects on brain structure associated with prenatal alcohol exposure in newborns

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Taylor ◽  
Sandra W. Jacobson ◽  
André van der Kouwe ◽  
Christopher D. Molteno ◽  
Gang Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Structure ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol

Outcomes of children adopted from Eastern Europe

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Miller ◽  
Wilma Chan ◽  
Linda Tirella ◽  
Ellen Perrin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Parent Stress ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Child Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
Facial Phenotype ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol

Behavioral problems are frequent among post-institutionalized Eastern European adoptees. However, risk factors related to outcomes have not been fully delineated. We evaluated 50 Eastern European adoptees, age 8—10 years, with their adoptive families for more than five years. Cognitive and behavioral outcomes and parenting stress were evaluated in relation to pre-adoptive risk factors, including arrival age, growth, and facial phenotype related to prenatal alcohol exposure. At follow-up, IQ and achievement scores were ≥ average in most children (≥74%). Behavioral and school problems were common (externalizing 44%, internalizing 18%, behavioral symptoms 50%, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 46%, learning disabilities 40%, mental health disorders 28%); 38% had multiple problems. Behavioral problems correlated inversely with IQ. Parent stress was high and correlated with child externalizing behaviors and inversely to child full scale IQ. Children with “severe behavioral disturbances” (24%) were more likely to have had smaller head circumferences at arrival. Child's age at adoption related inversely to parent stress, possibly due to the longer duration of time that children resided with their families. “High/intermediate risk” phenotypic facial scores for prenatal alcohol exposure (58%) correlated with head circumference z scores at arrival and follow-up. Otherwise, arrival age, growth, and facial phenotype did not correlate with these specific outcome measures.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document