University of Otago senior lecturer in anatomy Dr Ruth
Napper (centre) and physiology Teaching Fellow Erin Hoskins
observe a trace of brain waves produced by Deirdre Kirkman
(66), during Brain Day activities on Saturday. Photo by
Jane Dawber.
The long-term effect on children's developing brains
arising from binge drinking during pregnancy is a matter of
"serious concern", University of Otago researcher Dr Ruth
Napper says.
Dr Napper, who is a senior lecturer in anatomy and structural
biology, was one of a several speakers involved in Brain Day
activities at Otago University on Saturday.
During her talk, Dr Napper said that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
(FAS) among children, arising from maternal drinking during
pregnancy, involved a strictly-defined series of
characteristics, including a distinctive series of facial
features.
However, a major study, conducted among primary school
children in Italy, had shown that in addition to the
classically-defined FAS youngsters, there was a significantly
larger group of children, without the facial characteristics,
who had nevertheless also experienced neurological damage
resulting from a broader Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Her own research with animal models had shown that
significant death of fetal neurons could result from a single
drinking bout.
"I was absolutely blown away by the number of dead cells I
could see," she said.
In some cases, teachers who wondered why their pupils were
having trouble performing certain learning tasks could be
encountering the effects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
More research was needed, but given the extent of drinking in
New Zealand there was also scope for more community awareness
and discussion about the broader effects of drinking during
pregnancy.
Dr Ruth Empson, an Otago University physiologist who
co-ordinated the university event, said they had again proved
"very successful", with several hundred people attending the
talks and other activities.
The Dunedin events were supported by the Neurological
Foundation and the university's Brain Health and Repair
Research Centre.
john.gibb@odt.co.nz
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