A recent study provided information on the neurobiological mechanisms that may contribute to memory problems in patients with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Furthermore, it suggested that PPAR-γ, a receptor in the cell nucleus, may be a target towards which treatments could be directed.
Patients with FASD have physical and behavioural alterations, either due to maternal alcohol consumption either during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Notable among these alterations is cognitive impairment. These problems are due to the fact that exposure to alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding impacts brain development and learning and memory circuits. This structural damage is irreversible.
For proper neuronal development, an important complex network of receptors, compounds and metabolic pathways must function accurately. One compound known to be involved is PPAR-γ (a receptor in cell nuclei). This compound participates in key brain maturation and cognition processes. PPAR-γ alterations during neurological development are associated with cognitive impairment. Although still in the experimental phase with mice, this study suggests that increasing the expression of PPAR-γ could be a promising therapeutic strategy and could open the door on new studies.
When considering possible treatments for FASD, it should be noted that an earlier phase of this study showed that CBD administered during adolescence can counteract cognitive impairment in mice exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. This effect is due to CBD treatment being able to reduce the inflammatory status of the brain, produced by prenatal exposure to alcohol.
However, both studies have been developed in an animal model. There are currently several studies in humans with FASD in the validation phase, some developed at the Hospital Clínic, Barcelona. Patients with FASD in these studies have been administered various possible treatments, for example, antioxidants. These could produce an improvement in various neurocognitive parameters.
Although still in the experimental phase, it is important that research in this field advances, to add therapeutic options for children with FASD. Until now, the treatments these patients have received are only to alleviate the symptoms of their disorder; no specific treatment has yet been developed to improve the brain alterations people with FASD suffer. Both these and future studies may open new fields of research towards possible treatments.
