Bio
For more than 25 years, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) has been recognized as an outcome of prenatal exposure to alcohol. Dr. Streissguth's research focuses on elucidating the long-term neuropsychological consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure. Streissguth and colleagues at the Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit have demonstrated a broad array of attentional, memory, learning and neurobehavioral effects of prenatal alcohol exposure from birth to adulthood, and are now investigating the neuroanatomic correlates of these dysfunctional behaviors.
Using innovative methods of evaluating brain images and specialized neuropsychological testing, Streissguth and her colleagues are conducting a project that focuses on detecting and measuring subtle details of brain impairment associated with prenatal alcohol exposure and determining their relationship to behavioral characteristics. Correlating specific brain anomalies with specific cognitive and behavioral problems caused by prenatal alcohol exposure could help open doors to services for people with FAS and related conditions. A new project will explore prenatal alcohol exposure as a factor in adult mental health problems and alcohol abuse.
Through her research, Streissguth has shown that environmental risk and protective factors can exacerbate or attenuate "secondary disabilities" (such as disrupted school experiences and trouble with the law) in children, adolescents and adults with FAS and related conditions. With colleagues at the Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit, she has developed and demonstrated effective strategies for preventing effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs, including an ongoing program that provides three years of paraprofessional advocacy for mothers abusing alcohol and drugs during pregnancy and getting little or no prenatal care.
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