OC10.03: Drinking even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy could alter fetal brain structure

Around 10% of women in North America and Europe consume alcohol during pregnancy, leading to neurodevelopmental issues known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). These disorders can range from learning difficulties to severe neurological issues, with a prevalence rate of 8 per 1,000 live births. This study quantified prenatal alterations in fetal gyrification using automated surface assessment and fetal MRI data. This study involved 500 fetal MRI examinations, where mothers were asked about their alcohol consumption habits using the PRAMS and TACE questionnaires. Brains were denoised, motion-corrected, and segmented for 3D super-resolution images. Gyrification indices were calculated to measure local surface folding and asymmetry of the cerebral cortex. Neurotypical alcohol-affected cases were compared with healthy control cases. A study involving 22 alcohol-exposed fetuses and 22 non-alcohol-exposed control fetuses was conducted. Seventeen mothers consumed less than 14 grams of alcohol per week. GI asymmetry indices were calculated for various brain regions. Results showed a significant reduction in neurotypical fetal brain asymmetry in the temporal lobes in alcohol-exposed fetuses. This suggests that alcohol exposure can impact brain development. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can affect fetal brain development, as seen in temporal brain asymmetry detected by fetal MRI. This is consistent with the correlation between prenatal brain asymmetry and language development in childhood, often negatively affecting children with FASD. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.