This study looks at whether a blood test can help identify fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) by examining patterns in DNA called “methylation.” These patterns act like markers that can show how early alcohol exposure may have affected development. Because diagnosing FASD can be difficult, symptoms vary widely and often overlap with other conditions, having a reliable biological marker could make diagnosis faster and more accurate.
Researchers analyzed DNA methylation in individuals with confirmed or suspected FAS and compared them to people without FASD. They discovered a consistent methylation pattern, or “episignature,” that appears strongly in people with FAS. This finding suggests that DNA methylation could one day become an important tool to support clinical diagnosis and help identify individuals who may otherwise be missed.