Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: experimental treatments and strategies for intervention

Despite the known damaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, women continue to drink during pregnancy, creating a need for effective interventions and treatments for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Experimental models can be useful in identifying potential treatments, and this article d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAlcohol research & health Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 76 - 85
Main Authors Idrus, Nirelia M, Thomas, Jennifer D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States U.S. Government Printing Office 01.01.2011
Superintendent of Documents
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Subjects
Animals
Apoptosis
Brain
Care and treatment
Clinical medicine
Drinking of alcoholic beverages
Early Medical Intervention - methods
Effect of alcohol on
Female
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders - diagnosis
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders - epidemiology
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders - therapy
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetus
Health aspects
Humans
Nerve Growth Factors - administration & dosage
Pregnancy
Pregnant women
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - diagnosis
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - epidemiology
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - therapy
Proteins
Rodents
Serotonin
Studies
Treatment Outcome
United States
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Summary:Despite the known damaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, women continue to drink during pregnancy, creating a need for effective interventions and treatments for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Experimental models can be useful in identifying potential treatments, and this article describes the spectrum of experimental therapeutics that currently are being investigated, including pharmacological, nutritional, and environmental/behavioral interventions. Some treatments target the underlying mechanisms that contribute to alcohol-induced damage, protecting against alcohol's teratogenic effects, whereas other treatments may enhance central nervous system plasticity either during alcohol exposure or long after alcohol exposure has ceased. The insights gained to date from experimental models offer several candidates for attenuating the deficits associated with FASD.
Bibliography:Nirelia M. Idrus, Ph.D., is a research scientist and Jennifer D. Thomas, Ph.D., is a professor at the Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
ISSN:1535-7414
2168-3492
1930-0573
2169-4796