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. 2016 Feb;20(2):80-82.
doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2015.09.011.

Drinking During Pregnancy and the Developing Brain: Is Any Amount Safe?

Michael E Charness  1 , Edward P Riley  2 , Elizabeth R Sowell  3
Affiliations

Drinking During Pregnancy and the Developing Brain: Is Any Amount Safe?

Michael E Charness et al. Trends Cogn Sci. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure can have lifelong, disabling effects on brain and cognition. Unlike animal studies, research on light-to-moderate drinking in humans demonstrates less consistent impact. Discussions of negative research findings in popular media underestimate potential adverse outcomes and complicate decisions about risks versus benefits of light-to-moderate drinking during pregnancy.

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