Alcohol use in early pregnancy may lead to brain changes and changes in gene functioning in other body tissues of offspring. In other words, it may cause lifelong changes to gene regulation in embryonic stem cells - the earliest cells to emerge from a developing embryo.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been linked to increased risk of a number of health conditions for offspring, including growth restriction, intellectual and learning disabilities, poor memory, poor coordination and speech and language delays. However, it is unclear exactly how alcohol exposure during pregnancy impacts fetal development to result in these conditions.
Alcohol-exposed offspring show symptons of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) - a condition that is currently difficult to diagnose. These include structural changes to the face and skull, and hyperactivity.
Culled from Medical News Today
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