The importance of alcohol misuse, malnutrition and genetic susceptibility on brain growth and plasticity

• Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 212 - 220
• Main Authors: Guerrini, Irene, Thomson, Allan D., Gurling, Hugh D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 2007
• Subjects: Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Drinking - genetics; Alcohol misuse; Alcohol-related cognitive impairment; Animals; Brain - cytology; Brain - drug effects; Brain - growth & development; Brain plasticity; Female; Foetal brain development; Genetic make-up; Humans; Male; Malnutrition; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Neuronal Plasticity - drug effects; Neuronal Plasticity - genetics; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Pregnancy; Thiamine deficiency; Pregnancy; Brain plasticity; Alcohol-related cognitive impairment; Foetal brain development; Genetic make-up; Alcohol misuse; Malnutrition; Thiamine deficiency
• ISSN: 0149-7634; 1873-7528
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2006.06.022

The “dyad: alcoholic mother and foetus” is a very complex entity in which several elements such as genes, metabolism, diet, drugs and social habits play a role at different stages in the development of the fetal brain damage. The literature on the effects of alcohol consumption on the developing brain is extensive but very few evidences have been reported regarding the combined neurotoxic effects of poor nutrition and alcohol consumption. The consequences of ethanol intake alone or combined with poor maternal nutrition appear to be severe and life-long. Alcohol exerts its neurotoxic effects on the developing brain directly by acting on fetal brain tissues, and indirectly either by interfering with placental physiology or by impairing the mother's physiology. Alcohol misuse in pregnancy is also frequently associated with other conditions that can potentially increase the brain damage such as poor nutrition and smoking. This article reviews the effects of poor nutrition and alcohol misuse during pregnancy on the development of the fetal brain and discusses the cumulative effects of these two environmental factors and their interaction with maternal and fetal genetic make-ups.