Disorders in memory and learning in offspring of alcoholized female rats, and a possibility for correction of these changes

Alcohol and Tobacco use While Breastfeeding and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Research has linked prenatal alcohol and tobacco use with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and variably with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Lactational use has been scantly considered. This study examined whether it may alter ADHD or ASD risk. Participants were 5107 infants recruited in 2004 and assessed longitudinally for the Growing Up in Australia Study. Logistic regression did not find any associations between maternal alcohol and tobacco use while breastfeeding and ADHD or ASD diagnosis at ages 6–7 or 10–11 years. Alcohol and tobacco use during lactation may not increase ADHD or ASD risk. Abstaining from alcohol and tobacco, however, may still be the safest option. Analyses were limited by lack of alcohol timing and retrospective variables that future research should address.

Drinking or Smoking While Breastfeeding and Later Academic Outcomes in Children

Alcohol consumed by breastfeeding mothers has been associated with reduced grammatical comprehension and cognition in children. This study examined whether drinking or smoking while breastfeeding was associated with reductions in Australian National Assessment Program–Literacy and Numeracy assessments. Data was sourced from The Growing Up in Australia Study. This is an ongoing longitudinal study of 5107 infants and mothers recruited in 2004 and followed over time every two years. Multivariable linear regression found that maternal alcohol consumption at study entry was associated with reductions in Grade 3 (age 7–10 years) National Assessment Program–Literacy and Numeracy writing (b = −1.56, 95% CI: −2.52; −0.60, p = 0.01), spelling (b = −2.06, 95% CI: −3.31; −0.81, p < 0.0001) and grammar and punctuation (b = −2.11, 95% CI: −3.59; −0.64, p = 0.01) scores, as well as Grade 5 (age 9–11 years) spelling scores (b = −1.58, 95% CI: −2.74; −0.43, p = 0.03) in children who had been breastfed at any time. This was not evident in babies who had never breastfed, or in the smaller group of infants who were actively breastfeeding at study entry. Smoking was not associated with any outcome variable. Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding may result in dose-dependent reductions in children’s academic abilities. While reductions are small, they may be of clinical significance if mothers drink large quantities. Further analyses are planned to assess developmental, physical and behavioural outcomes in children.

Drinking or Smoking While Breastfeeding and Later Cognition in Children

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although prenatal alcohol and nicotine exposure are associated with reduced cognition in children, associations between consumption of alcohol during lactation and cognition have not been examined. We aimed to examine whether drinking or smoking while breastfeeding lowers children's cognitive scores. We hypothesized that increased drinking or smoking would be associated with dose-dependent cognitive reductions.

METHODS

Data were sourced from Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Participants were 5107 Australian infants recruited in 2004 and assessed every 2 years. Multivariable linear regression analyses assessed relationships between drinking and smoking habits of breastfeeding mothers and children's Matrix Reasoning, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Third Edition and Who Am I? scores at later waves.

RESULTS

Increased or riskier wave 1 maternal alcohol consumption was associated with reductions in Matrix Reasoning scores at age 6 to 7 years in children who had been breastfed (B = -0.11; SE = 0.03; 95% confidence interval: -0.18 to -0.04; P = .01). This relationship was not evident in infants who had never breastfed (B = -0.02; SE = 0.10; 95% confidence interval = -0.20 to 0.17; P = .87). Smoking during lactation was not associated with any outcome variable.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposing infants to alcohol through breastmilk may cause dose-dependent reductions in their cognitive abilities. This reduction was observed at age 6 to 7 years but was not sustained at age 10 to 11 years. Although the relationship is small, it may be clinically significant when mothers consume alcohol regularly or binge drink. Further analyses will assess relationships between alcohol consumption or tobacco smoking during lactation and academic, developmental, physical, and behavioral outcomes in children.

The free radical spin trapping agent phenylbutylnitrone reduces fetal brain DNA oxidation and postnatal cognitive deficits caused by in utero exposure to a non-structurally teratogenic dose of ethanol: a role for oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), although implicated in morphological birth defects caused by ethanol (EtOH) during pregnancy, have not been directly linked to its behavioral deficits. To determine this, a pathogenic oxidative DNA lesion was measured in fetal brain, and a passive avoidance learning test was assessed postnatally in the progeny of CD-1 mice treated once on gestational day 17 with 4g/kg EtOH or its saline vehicle, with or without pretreatment with the free radical spin trapping agent α-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN; 40mg/kg). EtOH-exposed CD-1 progeny, unlike C57BL/6 progeny, had no morphological birth defects, but exhibited a learning deficit at 12 weeks of age (p<0.001), which continued to 16 weeks in males (p<0.01). Peak blood EtOH concentrations were 2.5-fold higher in C57BL/6 mice compared to CD-1 mice given the same dose. PBN pretreatment of CD-1 dams blocked both EtOH-initiated DNA oxidation in fetal brain (p<0.05) and postnatal learning deficits (p<0.01), providing the first direct evidence for ROS in the mechanism of EtOH-initiated neurodevelopmental deficits.