It seems everybody knows that "alcohol is bad for you." But because this is such a broad, abstract concept, it can be hard to understand the ways alcohol can affect our brain development. Knowledge of the specific aspects in which alcohol can be damaging, including both its short-term and long-term effects, can help us make more informed choices throughout our lives.
I work at a brain imaging lab in the UCSD department of psychiatry. Through MRI scans, we try to analyze how alcohol and drug use affects the development of the brain in teenagers and young adults. By comparing the brain scans from substance-using teenagers to those of non-substance using controls, we can observe clear differences in the brain.
If you are in middle or high school, chances are you have been exposed to alcohol at some point, be it through family or friends. If you are in college, you are aware of the expectations people have of college life. People might feel like they're expected to, and in some cases even pressured to drink alcohol in order to fit in.
The short video below will give you an introduction as to why this is such an important subject, and how it is relevant to us. Below the video, you will find some of the specific ways in which alcohol and marijuana can prevent your brain from fully maturing. At the bottom of the page, you will find some examples of MRI and PET scans, in which brain damage caused from heavy alcohol use can be observed.
I work at a brain imaging lab in the UCSD department of psychiatry. Through MRI scans, we try to analyze how alcohol and drug use affects the development of the brain in teenagers and young adults. By comparing the brain scans from substance-using teenagers to those of non-substance using controls, we can observe clear differences in the brain.
If you are in middle or high school, chances are you have been exposed to alcohol at some point, be it through family or friends. If you are in college, you are aware of the expectations people have of college life. People might feel like they're expected to, and in some cases even pressured to drink alcohol in order to fit in.
The short video below will give you an introduction as to why this is such an important subject, and how it is relevant to us. Below the video, you will find some of the specific ways in which alcohol and marijuana can prevent your brain from fully maturing. At the bottom of the page, you will find some examples of MRI and PET scans, in which brain damage caused from heavy alcohol use can be observed.
alcohol and binge drinking
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marijuana
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© National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Intoxicated subject shows much less activation when compared to a sober control while performing the same task. © University of Washington
enlargement of the ventricles is clearly visible in the scan from the alcoholic subject. |
© National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Differences such as the size of the ventricles and integrity of matter can be observed. © UNC School of Medicine
not only are the ventricles enlarged, both white and gray matter in the alcoholic subject seem deteriorated when compared to the healthy control. |
Remember, the studies and examples shown do not represent social or occasional drinking, but participants who engage in binge drinking or have alcohol abuse and dependence disorders. There are also other factors involved in both brain development and substance use. It is important to note that teenagers who report alcohol or other drug sue are more likely to report other problems as well.