A new study shows consequences from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can be predicted with a test.
130 infants were tested using an instrument that analyzed their neurological and behavioral reactions, according to a release. The tool is called Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale, First Edition (NNNS-I). “In alcohol-exposed babies, the tool picked up subtle differences in attention and regulation that are associated with lower cognitive and motor functioning in early childhood.” Additionally, “the study revealed significant differences in NNNS-I scores among babies with mild-to-moderate PAE and no PAE, and infants with positive biomarkers for alcohol were more likely to be in the high-risk group.”
The researchers hope these results will aid early intervention in the future.
The study is published in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research.
