Authors:
O'Leary C; Leonard H; Bourke J; D'Antoine H; Bartu A; Bower C
Authors notes:
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 2012:55(3):271-277
Keywords:
Maternal Alcohol use, Intellectual disability, Data linkage
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the association between maternal alcohol use disorder and intellectual disability in children.
At least 3.8% of cases of intellectual disability could be avoided by preventing maternal alcohol use disorder: 1.3% in non-Aboriginal and 15.6% in Aboriginal children.
We observed a three-fold increase in the adjusted odds of intellectual disability in children of mothers with an alcohol-related diagnosis recorded during pregnancy.
One-third (32%) of children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome had intellectual disability.
Maternal alcohol use disorder is the leading known risk factor for intellectual disability with no identified genetic origin.