Adult reversal of cognitive phenotypes in neurodevelopmental disorders

Recent findings in mice suggest that it is possible to reverse certain neurodevelopmental disorders in adults. Changes in development, previously thought to be irreparable in adults, were believed to underlie the neurological and psychiatric phenotypes of a range of common mental health problems with a clear developmental component. As a consequence, most researchers have focused their efforts on understanding the molecular and cellular processes that alter development with the hope that early intervention could prevent the emergent pathology. Unexpectedly, several different animal model studies published recently, including animal models of autism, suggest that it may be possible to reverse neurodevelopmental disorders in adults: Addressing the underlying molecular and cellular deficits in adults could in several cases dramatically improve the neurocognitive phenotypes in these animal models. The findings reviewed here provide hope to millions of individuals afflicted with a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, since they suggest that it may be possible to treat or even cure them in adults

A prospective study of prevalence and predictors of concurrent alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy

Concurrent drinking and smoking during pregnancy is a major public health concern. Changes in these behaviours are under-researched, although essential if effective interventions are to be implemented. Hence this paper investigated characteristics of women who decreased concurrent drinking and smoking during pregnancy. 1,591 women were identified as pregnant at one of three surveys from 2000 to 2006 of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health and not pregnant at the previous survey. Relative risks (RRs) were calculated for concurrent drinkers and smokers before pregnancy of (1) decreasing drinking, (2) decreasing smoking and (3) decreasing drinking and smoking during pregnancy. Three hundred and fifty-four women (22%) were concurrent drinkers and smokers before pregnancy; of these women, 73% decreased drinking, 72% decreased smoking and 53% decreased drinking and smoking during pregnancy. Decreased concurrent drinking and smoking was significantly higher among women who had at least 12 years education (RRs: 1.5-1.6), who drank at least 1-2 days/week (RRs: 1.5-1.6) and who had 3 or more drinks per occasion (RRs: 1.6-1.8), and significantly lower among heavy smokers, mothers of other children (RRs: 0.8) and disadvantaged women: those stressed about money, with poor mental health, low social support and experience of partner violence (RRs: 0.6-0.7). Clearly programs are needed to tackle concurrent drinking and smoking during pregnancy. Given many pregnancies are unplanned, these programs should target drinking and smoking before and during pregnancy, as well as disadvantaged women, to reduce the deleterious effects of concurrent substance use on their babies and themselves