Executive and Social Functioning Across Development in Children and Adolescents With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure

Abstract

Background Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is linked to a variety of neurodevelopmental challenges, including social functioning (SF) and executive functioning (EF) deficits. These deficits present differently across developmental stages from preschool age to adolescence. Methods The post hoc analyses described here were conducted on data from 83 preschool‐age children with PAE (early childhood group; ages 2.5 to 5.0) and 95 adolescents (49 with PAE, 46 controls; ages 8 to 16). Each child completed EF tasks as part of several prior studies. Parents completed social and communication inventories about their child’s abilities. Thirty‐three participants from the early childhood group returned for a 4‐year follow‐up and completed both SF and EF measures. Results Both the early childhood and adolescent groups with PAE showed deficits in SF and EF. There was a relationship between SF and EF within the adolescent PAE group that was not present in the adolescent control group or the early childhood PAE group. However, at the 4‐year follow‐up (Mage = 8.45), participants originally in the early childhood PAE group also demonstrated this relationship. Conclusions These findings support previous research on EF/SF deficits in adolescents with PAE while also addressing a gap in the literature concerning early childhood research on this topic. Additionally, these findings suggest that the relationship between EF and SF deficits may strengthen throughout development. This line of research highlights potential sensitive periods for SF and EF training in children with PAE and suggests that fetal alcohol spectrum disorders programs consider targeting EF training as a component of social skill interventions.

Trajectories of brain white matter development in young children with prenatal alcohol exposure

“…Specifically, trajectories that converge towards typicality predict better clinical outcomes in large, longitudinal samples of children diagnosed with autism (Andrews et al, 2021 ; Ecker et al, 2010 ; Tunç et al, 2019 ) and ADHD (Shaw et al, 2006 ). Further studies are needed to investigate whether atypical trajectories of white matter tracts, such as those seen here, coincide with the progression of neurodevelopmental challenges in young children with PAE (Hanlon‐Dearman et al, 2020 ; Rockhold et al, 2020 ; Subramoney et al, 2018 ). For example, the onset of challenges may relate to the distinct trajectories of early maturing tracts (e.g., ILF, IFOF) compared to later maturing tracts (e.g., uncinate fasciculus) (Reynolds et al, 2019 ) .…”

“…This highlights the importance of our longitudinal analysis and the need for future longitudinal studies around PAE. Specifically, trajectories that converge towards typicality predict better clinical outcomes in large, longitudinal samples of children diagnosed with autism (Andrews et al, 2021;Ecker et al, 2010;Tunç et al, 2019) and ADHD (Shaw et al, 2006) Rockhold et al, 2020;Subramoney et al, 2018).…”

Zebrafish models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

“…Furthermore, structural changes in brain formation have been linked to impaired behavior and cognition (Nuñez & Sowell, 2011; Riley & McGee, 2005). Individuals with FASD demonstrate impaired social functioning (Rockhold et al, 2021). Data from animal models also strongly suggest that embryonic ethanol exposure alters social behavior (Kelly et al, 2009).…”

Effects of Moderate to High Static Magnetic Fields on Reproduction

“…In terms of reproductive development, early fetal development involves a series of intricate regulations and cell divisions, which make it very sensitive to external interference. Some external factors may not have obvious effects on healthy adults but would cause irreversible effects on embryonic development [Rockhold et al, 2021]. A study showed that Gadolinium MRI with 1.5 or 3 T SMFs during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of rheumatism, inflammation, infiltrative skin conditions, stillbirth, or neonatal death [Ray et al, 2016].…”