Researchers develop cheek swab test for prenatal alcohol exposure

Researchers at the University of Helsinki are developing a cheek swab method that could identify alcohol exposure during pregnancy, Yle reports. The test could improve estimates of how many children are affected and help more children receive support.

A recent study found that 70 percent of the children examined received a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD. The disorder refers to the range of foetal injuries caused by alcohol exposure.

Researchers led by Nina Kaminen-Ahola, head of the university’s environmental epigenetics laboratory, followed the development and learning abilities of 80 six-year-olds. Twenty-eight of the children had been exposed to alcohol during pregnancy.

The children who had been exposed performed less well in tasks measuring reasoning, memory and problem-solving. Their parents and preschool teachers also reported more attention deficit hyperactivity disorder traits and difficulties with social interaction.

The findings partly surprised the research team. The researchers had expected prolonged exposure to have a clearer effect than short-term exposure. However, children exposed before the eighth week of pregnancy had as many nervous system and facial abnormalities as those exposed for longer.

The number of children affected by alcohol use during pregnancy is not known. Estimates issued each year before FASD Day suggest that between 600 and 3,000 children with some degree of alcohol-related damage are born in Finland annually.

FASD can affect learning, memory and everyday skills. In its most severe form, alcohol causes foetal alcohol syndrome, which can involve small size, a small head and atypical facial features. Alcohol is estimated to be associated with more than 400 diseases or conditions.

There is currently no way to reverse the damage, but diagnosis can make it easier to provide support. Many affected children may remain undiagnosed because the symptoms overlap with those of other disorders.

The University of Helsinki has received ministry funding for a new study examining the prevalence of alcohol exposure during pregnancy in Finland. Researchers will look for biological markers in anonymous inner-cheek swab samples collected from participants in the Helsinki University Hospital area.

The research group has collected samples from children exposed to alcohol for 13 years. Kaminen-Ahola said that understanding the cause of learning, memory and attention problems would be important in ensuring that children receive the support they need.