Our free newsletter
offers tips and tools
you need to create
a happier and
healthier family!

Categories


All Articles
CALL: (888) 972-7736

Study shows that binge drinking can affect verbal memory storage

By Staff Writer

Half of teens between the ages of 12 and 14 said that they have binge drank within the past 30 days, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Justice. Similarly, about 65 percent of youths between the ages of 15 and 17 said that they drank excessively within the past month.

While many adults and teens know that binge drinking can lead to injuries, a new study by researchers from the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela in Spain shows that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also cause poor verbal declarative memory.

Examining 122 students between the ages of 18 and 20, researchers analyzed how periods of heavy drinking can adversely affect the hippocampus, a region in the brain that is critical for learning and memory. The study found that among college students, binge drinking can lower an individual's ability to process and retain new verbal information.

Parents who are concerned that their teens are participating in binge drinking may want to consider enrolling them in troubled teenagers programs. Staff members at many of these schools are trained to manage youths who have alcohol addictions. Additionally, they can counsel them about the dangers of their habits. 

Share |