This longitudinal prospective study will evaluate adverse outcomes in a 25-year follow-up of a birth cohort of approximately 500. These young adults were prenatally exposed to known levels and patterns of alcohol, according to maternal report during pregnancy in 1974-75. Data from 10 previous examinations (day one to 21 years) will be examined as potential covariates and mediators. The basic hypothesis for this long- term teratogenic study is that prenatal alcohol exposure exerts an enduring dose-dependent influence on offspring health and development across the life span.
Specific Aims for this 5-year proposal: 1. To analyze prenatal alcohol effects using data collected from 450 21-year olds given a 5-hour laboratory examination to measure memory, executive function, information processing, physical size, facial features, and alcohol/drug use and abuse. 2. To conduct pilot studies and a 25-year examination of these same subjects, focusing on neuromotor function, attention, mental illness, and life problems including alcohol dependence. To analyze these data in terms of prenatal alcohol effects and relevant lifespan covariates and mediating factors. 3. To identify specific patterns of deficit that might serve as markers for individuals with Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) as defined in the recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on FAS. In such individuals, long term outcomes and life events modifying such outcomes will be investigated. These proposed studies have far-reaching public health implications. Alcohol remains the teratogenic drug most frequently ingested during pregnancy. New studies indicate that the birth rate of FAS and ARND combined is nearly 1 per 100 births. As it stands now, alcohol-affected infants, children and adults are often denied services when they lack the characteristic FAS face. It is essential that the long term adult consequences of these birth defects be understood and that markers of clinically affected individuals be identified to support appropriate diagnosis and intervention.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37AA001455-31
Application #
7028992
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
Breslow, Rosalind
Project Start
1978-01-01
Project End
2009-03-31
Budget Start
2006-04-01
Budget End
2007-03-31
Support Year
31
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$566,861
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Connor, Paul D; Sampson, Paul D; Streissguth, Ann P et al. (2006) Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on fine motor coordination and balance: A study of two adult samples. Neuropsychologia 44:744-51
Barr, H M; Streissguth, A P (2001) Identifying maternal self-reported alcohol use associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 25:283-7
Kelly, S J; Day, N; Streissguth, A P (2000) Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on social behavior in humans and other species. Neurotoxicol Teratol 22:143-9
Streissguth, A P; O'Malley, K (2000) Neuropsychiatric implications and long-term consequences of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Semin Clin Neuropsychiatry 5:177-90
Connor, P D; Sampson, P D; Bookstein, F L et al. (2000) Direct and indirect effects of prenatal alcohol damage on executive function. Dev Neuropsychol 18:331-54
Connor, P D; Streissguth, A P; Sampson, P D et al. (1999) Individual differences in auditory and visual attention among fetal alcohol-affected adults. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 23:1395-402
Baer, J S; Barr, H M; Bookstein, F L et al. (1998) Prenatal alcohol exposure and family history of alcoholism in the etiology of adolescent alcohol problems. J Stud Alcohol 59:533-43
Olson, H C; Streissguth, A P; Sampson, P D et al. (1997) Association of prenatal alcohol exposure with behavioral and learning problems in early adolescence. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36:1187-94
Sampson, P D; Streissguth, A P; Bookstein, F L et al. (1997) Incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome and prevalence of alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder. Teratology 56:317-26
Streissguth, A P; Barr, H M; Olson, H C et al. (1994) Drinking during pregnancy decreases word attack and arithmetic scores on standardized tests: adolescent data from a population-based prospective study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 18:248-54

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