A recent study on pregnant women consuming alcohol reveals that alcohol has a direct impact on the mental development of the baby. MRI reports show that those women who consume alcohol during their pregnancy, even in very low amounts, are delaying the brain development of their babies. A very low amount of alcohol can alter the structure of the baby’s brain. (Alcohol Intake During Pregnancy)
The investigation on alcohol exposure to prenatal was done using MRI, in which the researchers compared healthy fetuses with the fetuses exposed to alcohol. The complete report was presented at the conference held at the Radiological Society of North America.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a developmental problem in babies that arises due to exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. This irreversible syndrome leads to structural changes in the brain and brain damage. Fetal alcohol syndrome shows variable effects on different children. In some children, this disease impacts the growth pattern.
Patrick Kienast, the lead researcher in the study, states that “It’s not surprising to know that most of the pregnant ladies are unaware of the fact that their alcohol intake is directly affecting their babies’ brain development”. He further quoted that he considered it his responsibility to be aware and educate people about the evil effects of alcohol on babies. Kienast is pursuing his Ph.D. at the Medical University of Vienna.
Research findings
The research included an MRI scan analysis of 24 babies with prenatal alcohol exposure. During the examination, all pregnant mothers had less than 36-week-old fetuses.
The researchers compared the TMS (fetal total maturation score) of alcohol-exposed fetuses with the healthy controls. They found that the score was lower in the case of alcohol-exposed fetuses and their perception and cognitive part of the brain were shallower.
What is a fetus?
A fetus is a baby in the womb. The stage of the unborn offspring, which is developing and growing inside a mother’s uterus, is referred to as a fetus.
What is fetal alcohol syndrome?
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a developmental problem in babies that arises due to exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. This irreversible syndrome leads to structural changes in the brain and brain damage. Fetal alcohol syndrome shows variable effects on different children. In some children, this disease impacts the growth pattern.
Is Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy Risky?
Yes, consuming alcohol during any stage of your pregnancy poses high risks to your baby. Even low or moderate amounts of alcohol can cause problems like fetal alcohol syndromes. Fetal alcohol syndrome shows variable effects on different children. In some children, this disease impacts their growth patterns.
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