What Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Really Does to the Brain(even low levels)

In this powerful episode, Jeff sits down with Dr. Long from the University of Calgary’s Developmental Neuroimaging Lab, one of the key researchers on Dr. Catherine Lebel’s team, to uncover what really happens inside the brain after prenatal alcohol exposure.

Dr. Long explains how the brain’s network — the system that keeps messages moving between regions — changes after prenatal alcohol exposure, and what that means for learning, behavior, and everyday regulation. Together, they unpack how the brain adapts, reroutes, and finds new ways to communicate, even when signals get jammed.

In This Episode You’ll Hear

• Why FASD is less about “broken” wiring and more about “busy” messaging systems
• How even low levels of prenatal alcohol exposure can alter brain development
• What “compensation” means — and how the brain finds detours to keep working
• Why fatigue, frustration, and “I won’t” moments are signs of overload, not defiance
• How supportive environments and calm routines help the brain stabilize and grow
• The resilience behind the science — and why hope is more than just a feeling

Why It Matters

This episode is a reminder that behaviors aren’t failures — they’re feedback. Dr. Long’s work helps caregivers, teachers, and professionals see FASD through a brain-based lens, turning frustration into understanding and burnout into compassion.

Different doesn’t mean broken — it means we need to look deeper, respond smarter, and keep believing that change is possible.

Resources & Links

Join our FASD Success Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/FASDforever
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@FASDSuccess
Follow Jeff on Instagram: instagram.com/FASDSuccess
Full show notes: fasdsuccess.com/podcast