Drinking alcohol while pregnant could have transgenerational effects. Soon-to-be mothers have heard the warning - don't drink while pregnant. Experts have issued numerous statements about the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, as it can lead to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Now a new study finds that prenatal ethanol exposure (From maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy) causes abnormalities in the brain and behavior that may be passed on for many generations. Source 5h.
Children affected by prenatal drinking more numerous than previously estimated. Researchers found a significant number of children across four regions in the United States were determined to have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The new findings may represent more accurate prevalence estimates of FASD among the general population than prior research. Source 3p.
Maternal binge drinking linked to mood problems and alcohol abuse in offspring. A new study is the first to show that binge drinking by expectant mothers can impair the mental health of their offspring. Researchers report that rat mothers who drank in a binge-like manner during pregnancy and lactation were more prone to depressive behaviors -- and so were their offspring. Moreover, alcohol-triggered heritable changes in the mother made their offspring more vulnerable to mood disturbances and alcohol abuse as adolescents. Source 5a.