Alcohol Abuse Slows Brain Growth In Young Adults
Heavy drinking during the teenage and young adult years is known to be dangerous, but new research shows that it can slow the rate of growth in developing brains.
A study published in science journal eNeuro found that heavy alcohol consumption amongst 71 young rhesus macaque monkeys, which have similar biology to humans, reduced their rate of brain growth significantly.
Researchers at the Oregon National Primate Research Center found that the rate of brain growth in these young adult monkeys decreased by 0.25 millilitres per year when they consumed the human equivalent of four beers per day.
The scientists also measured the monkeys' diets, daily schedules and overall health, so that they could rule out other things that could lead to slower brain growth.
The results suggest that previous research on the effect of alcohol on young humans has been correct. This has been difficult to prove in the past because the studies have relied on young people reporting how much alcohol they drink, and they have not always been completely honest.
The next question for the researchers is: what are the long-term effects of young adults drinking too much alcohol?
Lead author of the study, Tatiana Shnitko, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the Division of Neuroscience at the Primate Center, explained that while older research has shown that the brain can heal itself to a certain point when people stop drinking alcohol, they do not know what the long-term effects on young minds are.
"This is the age range when the brain is being fine-tuned to fit adult responsibilities," Shnitko said, adding that they need to find out if drinking at a young age affects people's ability to learn later in life.
