More bad news for teens who abuse alcohol: If they continue their bad habits into adulthood, they will put their brains at continued risk. Drinking heavily throughout adulthood leads to a decrease in brain volume, according to a study from Wellesley College.
- Dr. Carol Ann Paul used data from 1,839 people ages 34 to 88 years old enrolled in the Framingham Offspring Study.
- The study subjects were classified as non-drinkers, former drinkers, and low drinkers.
- Those who had more than 14 drinks a week showed a 1.6 percent decrease in brain volume on MRI scans compared to those who didn't drink.
- Women lost more brain volume than men, particularly women in their 70s.
- Those who had a 12-year history of heavy drinking had less brain volume than those who moved into the high drinking category within the past 12 years.
The Framingham study has been ongoing since 1948 among residents of the town of Framingham, Massachusetts. Researchers in this study usually focus on heart disease.
Labels: health_problems, alcohol, brain_chemistry
Posted By: Adolescent Substance Abuse