Drinking During Pregnancy and the Developing Brain: Is Any Amount Safe?

Michael E Charness; Edward P Riley; Elizabeth R Sowell

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2015.09.011

Drinking During Pregnancy and the Developing Brain: Is Any Amount Safe?

Trends Cogn Sci. 2016 Feb;20(2):80-82. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2015.09.011.

Authors

Michael E Charness¹, Edward P Riley², Elizabeth R Sowell³

Affiliations

¹ VA Boston Healthcare System and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, 6330 Alvarado Court, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
³ Developmental Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory and Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Institute for the Developing Mind, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure can have lifelong, disabling effects on brain and cognition. Unlike animal studies, research on light-to-moderate drinking in humans demonstrates less consistent impact. Discussions of negative research findings in popular media underestimate potential adverse outcomes and complicate decisions about risks versus benefits of light-to-moderate drinking during pregnancy.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects*
Brain / drug effects
Brain / embryology*
Brain / pathology
Female
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / epidemiology
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / genetics
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / physiopathology
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / prevention & control
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Humans
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
Risk
Social Stigma

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding