For instance, the brain changes may have preceded the alcohol consumption and contributed to the onset of the alcohol abuse. Or another risk factor may have caused both the drinking behavior and brain changes. Clark says that at this early stage, it is difficult to say whether brain changes or alcohol abuse come first. He says that longitudinal studies are needed to confirm and expand the findings. A new report suggests drinking alcohol during this time may damage vulnerable areas in the brain.
More study is needed to determine the significance of the damage and if it's reversible.
In the study, doctors took images of teen drinkers' brains and compared them with images from nondrinking peers. Drinkers showed smaller brain regions in charge of memory and learning. Drinkers also showed more signs of other mental conditions like depression, conduct disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.