Prenatal alcohol exposure alters brain structure and neurocognitive outcomes for 6‐ to 7‐year‐old children in a South African birth cohort
This study suggests that there is persistent altered brain structural development in children with PAE, consistent with previous findings in this cohort at infancy and age 2-3 years. Cortical changes in regions known to play a role in numeracy and semantic memory mediated associations between PAE and neurocognitive deficits, highlighting clinical relevance. Efforts to prevent PAE and improve neurocognitive development in children with PAE should be implemented as early as possible after birth.
Authors
- Catherine J. Wedderburn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4887-1644)
- Nadia Hoffman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7269-1416)
- Chanellé Hendrikse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1494-1800)
- Annerine Roos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6487-3159)
- Dan Joseph Stein (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7218-7810)
- Jessica E. Ringshaw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6885-8351)
- Kirsten A. Donald (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0276-9660)
- Heather Joy Zar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9046-759X)
- Katherine L. Narr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9396-7936)
- Roger P. Woods (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9679-9571)
- Layla Bradford
- Tiffany Burd
- Shantanu H. Joshi
Institutions
- South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- Brain Mapping Foundation (US)
- Neurobehavioral Systems (US)
- Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (ZA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research
- Published
- 2025-04-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.70048
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.49
Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
- ABMRF/The Foundation for Alcohol Research
- Wellcome Trust
- Newton Fund
- Government of the United Kingdom
- National Research Foundation
- South African Medical Research Council
- Harry Crossley Foundation
- Medical Research Council
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism