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Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats
Published on: December 14, 2014
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Dysmorphic Features in Adults at Midlife.
Susan A Stoner1, Margaret L P Adam2, Tamara S Bodnar3
1Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Alcohol, Clinical & Experimental Research
|June 30, 2026
Summary
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) related physical features persist into midlife, aiding diagnosis in adults. Demographic factors influence some features, necessitating age, gender, and race-specific diagnostic norms.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Human development
- Genetics and heredity
Background:
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are linked to distinct physical features from infancy through adolescence.
- Aging may diminish these characteristic dysmorphological features in adulthood.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for continued diagnostic utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the persistence and diagnostic utility of FASD-related dysmorphology in midlife adults.
- To assess how aging affects the characteristic physical features associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE).
Main Methods:
- 192 subjects, including 132 with FASD or documented PAE, were recruited.
- Standard dysmorphology examinations of 23 physical features were performed blind to FASD/PAE status.
- Participants were grouped by dysmorphology severity (high/low) or age-matched controls; regression analyses controlled for demographics.
Main Results:
- Controlling for demographics, significant group differences were observed in orbitofrontal circumference, palpebral fissure lengths, philtrum score, vermilion border score, hypoplastic midface, and camptodactyly.
- Demographic factors (age, sex, race/ethnicity) moderated the expression of philtrum length, philtrum score, and vermilion border score.
Conclusions:
- PAE-related dysmorphological features persist into midlife, retaining diagnostic value for FASD.
- Age, gender, and race-specific reference norms are needed for accurate adult FASD diagnosis.
- Sentinel features of FASD require updated reference sets for adult populations.
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