Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Essay - 766 fetal alcohol, which can cause harmful physical and neurological abnormalities. Infants born with varying degrees of adverse effects from prenatal alcohol ingestion may suffer from a range of disorders described as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder [FASD] (May & Gossage, 2011a ). The most profound effects of prenatal alcohol exposure are on fetal brain development, which includes the resulting cognitive and behavioral effects (Riley, Infante, & Warren, 2011). The incidence of FASD is estimated to range from 0.2 to 2 per 1,000 live births (Douzgou et al., 2012). Alcohol produces teratogenic effects in all gestations, with particular characteristics depending on the trimester of pregnancy in which alcohol is consumed (Paoletti et al., 2013). Since there is no exact dose-response relationship between the amount of alcohol ingested prenatally and the extent of alcohol damage to the fetus, abstinence from alcohol at the time of conception and during pregnancy is strongly recommended (Paoletti et al., 2013).PhysiologyWhen alcohol is consumed by a pregnant woman, it crosses the placental barrier and quickly reaches the fetus. Numerous studies have shown equivalent fetal and maternal alcohol concentrations, suggesting a rampant bidirectional movement of alcohol between the 2 compartments (Vaux, 2012). The fetus appears to depend on maternal hepatic detoxification because alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in the fetal liver is less than 10% of that observed in the adult liver (Vaux, 2012). Additionally, amniotic fluid acts as... middle of paper ...... euronal plasticity, which is the ability of the brain to be changed in relation to previous experiences (Paoletti et al., 2013). During development, neuronal plasticity plays a key role in learning and memory processes (Medina, 2011). The proposed alcohol-induced oxidative stress may explain the mechanism by which alcohol can exert harmful teratogenic effects on the brain during the third trimester (Brocardo, Gil-Mohapel, & Christie, 2011). Clinical Manifestations The leading cause of intellectual disability is maternal alcohol abuse ( Sadler and Langman, 2012). DiagnosisThere are three main factors that should be considered in diagnosing FASD in an individual: (1) physical growth, development, and structural defects (e.g., dysmorphology); (2) cognitive function and neurobehavior; and (3) maternal exposure and risk (May & Gossage, 2011a).

Essay / Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Essay - 766 fetal alcohol, which can cause harmful physical and neurological abnormalities. Infants born with varying degrees of adverse effects from prenatal alcohol ingestion may suffer from a range of disorders described as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder [FASD] (May & Gossage, 2011a ). The most profound effects of prenatal alcohol exposure are on fetal brain development, which includes the resulting cognitive and behavioral effects (Riley, Infante, & Warren, 2011). The incidence of FASD is estimated to range from 0.2 to 2 per 1,000 live births (Douzgou et al., 2012). Alcohol produces teratogenic effects in all gestations, with particular characteristics depending on the trimester of pregnancy in which alcohol is consumed (Paoletti et al., 2013). Since there is no exact dose-response relationship between the amount of alcohol ingested prenatally and the extent of alcohol damage to the fetus, abstinence from alcohol at the time of conception and during pregnancy is strongly recommended (Paoletti et al., 2013).PhysiologyWhen alcohol is consumed by a pregnant woman, it crosses the placental barrier and quickly reaches the fetus. Numerous studies have shown equivalent fetal and maternal alcohol concentrations, suggesting a rampant bidirectional movement of alcohol between the 2 compartments (Vaux, 2012). The fetus appears to depend on maternal hepatic detoxification because alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in the fetal liver is less than 10% of that observed in the adult liver (Vaux, 2012). Additionally, amniotic fluid acts as... middle of paper ...... euronal plasticity, which is the ability of the brain to be changed in relation to previous experiences (Paoletti et al., 2013). During development, neuronal plasticity plays a key role in learning and memory processes (Medina, 2011). The proposed alcohol-induced oxidative stress may explain the mechanism by which alcohol can exert harmful teratogenic effects on the brain during the third trimester (Brocardo, Gil-Mohapel, & Christie, 2011). Clinical Manifestations The leading cause of intellectual disability is maternal alcohol abuse ( Sadler and Langman, 2012). DiagnosisThere are three main factors that should be considered in diagnosing FASD in an individual: (1) physical growth, development, and structural defects (e.g., dysmorphology); (2) cognitive function and neurobehavior; and (3) maternal exposure and risk (May & Gossage, 2011a).

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