Two Drinks During Pregnancy May Cause Neurological Problems

Two Drinks During Pregnancy May Cause Neurological Problems
February 19, 2004

Research Summary

A pregnant woman who has as few as two alcoholic drinks could harm brain cells in her developing fetus and cause a lifetime of neurological problems, the Associated Press reported Feb. 14.

Animal studies by Dr. John W. Olney, a brain researcher at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., showed that a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy could kill developing nerve cells in the brain of a fetus.

According to Olney, two drinks raises alcohol levels in the blood to 0.07 percent. Olney's studies found this percentage was enough to kill developing brain cells in unborn mice.

"That amount of alcohol would cause a state of intoxication just under the legal limit, which is 0.08 percent in most states," he said.

Olney said that medical anesthetics and party drugs could also kill fetal neurons.

The study results were presented at the national meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.