FASD-CAN's Principal and Practice Advisor is scanning FASD research around the globe and developing snapshots for our readers in Aotearoa about research that looks promising.
Note: while these pdfs are intended to make this research more accessible, some of the language may be quite clinical.
Because FASD and ADHD often share outward features – such as differences in attention, impulse control, working memory, and energy levels – clinicians frequently find it difficult to tell them apart. As a result, many people living with FASD receive an ADHD diagnosis alone, while the broader impact of prenatal alcohol exposure remains unrecognised.
Find out more about FASD and ADHD
Cannabidiol or CBD is a natural chemical compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD does not cause a 'high' or any kind of mind-altering intoxication and is not addictive. It interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate mood, sleep, pain, appetite and immune response.
New research shows that CBD helps with neuroprotection and is anti-inflammatory – protecting brain cells and reducing inflammation in the brain. The study showed repair to damage in the hippocampus (the part of the brain used for memory), and the prefrontal cortex which is used for decision-making and managing emotions. It helped balance brain chemistry altered by alcohol exposure and improved the gut microbiota, repairing the 'gut-brain axis' (the communication line between our stomach and our brain).
Find out more about FASD and CBD.
