Maternal Binge Drinking Linked to Mood Problems and Alcohol Abuse in Offspring

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Brancato A, Castelli V, Cavallaro A, Lavanco G, Plescia F, Cannizzaro C. Pre-conceptional and Peri-Gestational Maternal Binge Alcohol Drinking Produces Inheritance of Mood Disturbances and Alcohol Vulnerability in the Adolescent Offspring. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2018; 9 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00150

Maternal Binge Drinking Linked to Mood Problems and Alcohol Abuse in Offspring

It is known that the use of drugs and alcohol while pregnant is severely detrimental to the development of a healthy baby. Despite this fact, about 10% of women drink alcohol during pregnancy and 1-2% of children are born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This recent study analyzed the affect of maternal alcohol consumption on the adolescent development of offspring.

Different groups of rats had differing access to alcohol, some had continuous access (habitual) while others had intermittent (binge) access to two bottles, one filled with water and the other with alcohol. It was found that binge drinking rats consumed a higher average amount of alcohol than those with continuous access. This fits with binging patterns observed in humans due to limited access. 

Offspring of binge drinking mothers were found to be more disposed to alcohol abuse during adolescence, indicating there may be a genetic imprinting component to alcohol use. The same offspring also showed a predisposition to other types of addiction, such as to sugar, food, and sex, experiencing despair-like moods in awkward environments.

The implications of this study are that alcohol can powerfully affect the development of the brains of fetuses. Consequences are not limited to mental retardation or developmental disabilities but could also affect mood and social abilities, as well as increase the risk of addictive tendencies.

-CK

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