A major new study published in JAMA Network Open finds that small amounts of prenatal alcohol exposure can cause structural brain alterations in children. This study reinforces the longtime medical and scientific community consensus that no amount of alcohol is without risk during pregnancy.

Researchers set the average exposure for the study as one drink per week after pregnancy discovery. That level of alcohol exposure has erroneously been claimed to be safe in many widely circulated articles and books. We hope these new findings will help correct this harmful misinformation.

The JAMA study concludes that, “These results suggest that PAE, even in small amounts, has a measurable effect on brain structure in children.” Compared to a control group, the MRI brain scans of 135 children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) showed deficiencies in specific areas of the brain associated with worse externalizing behavior (aggression, hyperactivity), a serious cause of concern for pediatric brain development.

Notably, the study ensured that there was no prenatal exposure to other adverse substances (including tobacco, cannabis, and illicit drugs).

The JAMA article states that the findings “highlight the importance of evidence-based policy making.” FASD United is committed to this goal, including through the passage of the FASD Respect Act, which would create a structure for the development of well-informed public policy on FASD and provide for a clear, ongoing societal commitment to advancing research and ensuring essential services for persons with FASD and their caregivers.

For more information visit the evidence-based FASD United PAE Frequently Asked Questions and FASD Frequently Asked Questions, including this question about low levels of prenatal alcohol exposure:

“Is any amount of PAE or alcohol safe during pregnancy?“
According to the published paper Drinking During Pregnancy and the Developing Brain: Is Any Amount Safe?, “The risks of light-to-moderate drinking during pregnancy are readily demonstrable in preclinical studies and some clinical studies. In contrast, the benefits of light-to-moderate drinking during pregnancy – the pleasure and relaxation afforded by alcohol – are modest. The current uncertainty over the effects of very low concentrations of alcohol on the developing fetus should be a source of reassurance for those women who have consumed a few drinks during pregnancy. At the same time, this uncertainty should be an impetus for women to refrain from any drinking while pregnant or trying to conceive.”