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Teen binge drinking may have lasting brain effects

By Staff Writer

Individuals who binge drink during their adolescence may suffer irreversible brain damage that could affect their moods or behaviors throughout the rest of their lives, according to a recent study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

The study's results indicate that although many adults also drink alcohol in excess, young people are more susceptible to permanent neural damage because the gray matter in their brains is still growing and neurons are being arranged to promote optimal cognitive function.

MRI scans of laboratory rodents showed that those that were exposed to alcohol had smaller forebrain volume and size than those who had not consumed the substance. Animals in the test group were also found to have impaired decision-making capabilities and limited behavioral flexibility.

The researchers said that a 73 percent reduction in neurotransmitter activity among the adolescent rats who were fed alcohol suggests that human teens who consume the substance will not be able to control their impulses or adapt to changing aspects of life in adulthood as well as their peers who abstained from underage drinking.

Boarding schools for troubled youth assist middle- or high-school aged students who exhibit binge drinking behaviors.

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