For my foster parent training hours, I recently attended a conference about FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). What I understood from the conference was that if a mother drinks alcohol while she's pregnant, there is a possibility that her child will be born with permanent, lifelong brain-damage, ranging from mild to severe. There is no known treatment for the brain damage itself, but there are strategies for treating some of the symptoms (impulsivity, attention issues, cause and effect thinking, etc) in the short term.
While the conference was very informative and eye opening to both the trials and the joys of parenting a child with FASD or living with it yourself, I still had questions - especially as a foster parent who sees these kids all, all the time. According to NOFAS*, It is estimated that almost 70% of the children in foster care are affected by prenatal alcohol exposure in varying degrees. Not all have FASD, but how it affects kids and what we can do to help is obviously very important.
Here's something you might not know about me, I am a fixer. I like things to have a solution. Something to do to make it better. Which is why I spend so much time studying attachment, neglect, abuse and how it affects kids - not for the morbid curiosity, but because I want to see kids heal.
Here's something you might not know about me, I am a fixer. I like things to have a solution. Something to do to make it better. Which is why I spend so much time studying attachment, neglect, abuse and how it affects kids - not for the morbid curiosity, but because I want to see kids heal.
So as you can imagine, I was excited to see an outbreak seminar at the conference on some research going on currently at the University of Minnesota on Choline and its effects on brain development in children who have been exposed to alcohol in utero. Quite possibly a real treatment that can cause the brain of younger children to form differently, in essence to course correct some of the damage caused by past alcohol use.
My research brain kicked into high, high gear. THIS is something I could get excited about.
Now, what the heck is Choline? It is a naturally occurring nutrient found in meat, soybeans, egg yolk, butter, peanuts, potatoes, cauliflower, lentils, oats, sesame seeds, flax seeds, breast milk and in most baby formulas I have seen.
According to a newspaper article written about the U of M study, "Choline affects the hippocampus, an area of the brain that’s critical to new learning... Animal studies showed that Choline optimized hippocampal development, increasing both cell size and the number of connections between cells". Basically, studies in rats have shown that a baby rat whose mother drank while pregnant and was given Choline either during pregnancy or after birth, showed improvement in learning tasks and had higher brain connections than those not given Choline. And here is the kicker - the brain changes were permanent and lifelong.
The current research study is looking to see if Choline can have the same effect in human children, ages 2.5 - 5 years old, who have been exposed to alcohol in utero. The research is still being done, but is so encouraging! Can't wait to see the results of this study.
Now, what the heck is Choline? It is a naturally occurring nutrient found in meat, soybeans, egg yolk, butter, peanuts, potatoes, cauliflower, lentils, oats, sesame seeds, flax seeds, breast milk and in most baby formulas I have seen.
According to a newspaper article written about the U of M study, "Choline affects the hippocampus, an area of the brain that’s critical to new learning... Animal studies showed that Choline optimized hippocampal development, increasing both cell size and the number of connections between cells". Basically, studies in rats have shown that a baby rat whose mother drank while pregnant and was given Choline either during pregnancy or after birth, showed improvement in learning tasks and had higher brain connections than those not given Choline. And here is the kicker - the brain changes were permanent and lifelong.
The current research study is looking to see if Choline can have the same effect in human children, ages 2.5 - 5 years old, who have been exposed to alcohol in utero. The research is still being done, but is so encouraging! Can't wait to see the results of this study.
But in the meantime, we have a naturally occurring nutrient, with no known side effects. My real question is why wouldn't we give it to kids who have been exposed pre-natally after doing the research and speaking with our pediatricians?
Worth a further look. A possible course correction for kids exposed to alcohol in utero. A possible life altering treatment that works. A bit of hope that I will run with.
Resources*:
FASD
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Center for Excellence
- Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS)
- National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS)
- NOFAS - FASD: What the Foster Care System Should Know
Choline & FASD
- PDF from the conference presentation on the Choline Trial at the U of M
- Newspaper article on the Choline Trial at the U of M
- Blog entry from family who is participating in the study
- Study on Choline & Alcohol exposure in Rats
- Article on Science Daily
I LOVE your posts the past few days! I passed on this post to my kiddo's little sis' mommy. She is gathering all the info she can on FASD. Your posts consistantly encourage me and challenge me to be the best I can at this. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks. I think you're fabulous!
DeleteOh my gosh, this is pretty amazing! Perhaps our household will be eating some more of those foods you listed :)
ReplyDeleteRight? They do have it in supplemental form too if you're interested.
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