Brain maturation in adults with FASD

Project Type(s):

Principal Investigator(s):

This application seeks to address gaps in our understanding of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in adults (FASD) by evaluating protracted effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on the brain. Individuals aged 30 and 60, who were diagnosed with FASD in childhood, and matched controls, who had previous structural MRI scans in their teens and twenties will be recruited to have another MRI session in which structural, DTI, and connectivity assessments will be conducted. Comparisons between these and earlier scans will provide insight into the changes in overall brain structure, white matter integrity, and function with age in subjects with alcohol exposure histories. We postulate that brain maturation following PAE follows an altered trajectory relative to normal developing controls.

Project Period:
July 1, 2022 — June 30, 2023

Funding Type(s):
Federal

Funder(s):
NIAA

Geographic Area(s):
National

Patient Population(s):
Adults