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Prenatal alcohol exposure and infant behavior: immediate effects and implications for later development
C D Coles1, I E Smith, A Falek
1Human and Behavior Genetics Research Laboratory, Georgia Mental Health Institute, Atlanta 30306.
Advances in Alcohol & Substance Abuse
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Prenatal alcohol exposure, even without fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), can cause lasting central nervous system (CNS) behavioral issues in infants. Continued exposure led to significant neurobehavioral deficits, with some effects persisting long-term.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure is linked to negative outcomes in children.
- Even without fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), infants may experience behavioral and learning problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and persistence of central nervous system (CNS) behavioral alterations in infants exposed to alcohol prenatally.
- To compare infants with continued exposure, stopped exposure, and no exposure.
Main Methods:
- Examined 103 healthy, full-term infants using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale.
- Assessed infants at 3 days, 30 days, and 6 months of age.
- Compared infants based on maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Main Results:
- Prenatally alcohol-exposed infants showed less optimal neurobehavioral responses.
- Infants with continued exposure had significantly lower orientation, motor performance, and autonomic regulation.
- Persistent behavioral alterations were observed, with some recovery in infants whose mothers stopped drinking.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure has immediate and persistent negative effects on infant behavior.
- Neurobehavioral deficits observed in infancy predict later mental and motor performance.
- Early cessation of alcohol consumption may mitigate some negative effects.