UofL researchers studying specific causes of fetal alcohol syndrome

University of Louisville researchers have secured $2.3 million from the National Institutes of Health to study how genetics may increase the risk of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in infants — and, what may help lower that risk. 

FASD is caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy, but some pregnancies are higher risk than others and not all babies exposed to alcohol will develop symptoms. The UofL researchers believe that understanding what genes might increase that risk could lead to better therapeutics and help mothers make safer, more informed choices. 

“This condition can be harmful to both mom and baby,” said Ben Lovely, the study’s principal investigator and an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics in the UofL School of Medicine. “Our goal is to help both by gaining insight into not just the surface-level risk factors, but also the genetic risk factors that haven’t really been explored.”

Symptoms of FASD vary, but can include problems with behavior, learning and physical development, including craniofacial malformations, such as a thin upper lip or small eye openings. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 20, or 5% of school-aged children in the U.S. may be affected.

For mothers, Lovely said, it may be more complicated than just avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. The most sensitive window for FASD exposure is before many women even know they’re pregnant, and some 42 percent of U.S. pregnancies are unplanned.

“Part of this is removing the stigma so we can talk about these things and find solutions that prevent or help mitigate the risks and effects of FASD,” Lovely said. “And the good news is, there may be some ways to do that.”

To explore genetic risk factors of FASD, researchers are looking to an unlikely source: zebrafish, which share 82% of the same genes as humans. Early studies have shown there may be some relatively simple ways to protect against FASD, such as by tweaking the formula of prenatal vitamins to lessen risk or developing therapeutics that address the birth defects that do happen.

“FASD is a complicated issue, and we need to address it from many angles,” Lovely said. “This isn’t as simple as saying ‘don’t drink.’ We need to develop more ways to help both mom and baby stay safe.”