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An international group of scientists from Australia and the UK have determined the three age groups in which the human brain is most vulnerable to alcohol consumption. The research, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), confirms the overall harmful effect of alcohol consumption on the body, as well as its irreparable damage to the brain.
The most harmful effect of alcohol is observed on the fetal brain during pregnancy. If the mother drinks too much alcohol, the risk of permanent neurological disorders in the child increases, which can also be affected by birth defects called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Even moderate or light drinking is widely associated with poorer psychological or behavioral outcomes in children, the researchers warn.
Similar risks present between 15 and 19 years old, when excessive consumption is linked to a decrease in brain volume, the functional connectivity of nerve cells, as well as with some deficit in cognitive function.
The third risk group is represented by those over 65. Although excessive alcohol consumption is not as common at this age, the consequences are harmful to the brain even if the amount of ethanol in the blood is low.
The study also concludes that alcohol is one of the modifiable risk factors for any type of dementia (especially early stage).
After noting the detrimental effects of alcohol on the brain, the authors insist that their results “are limited by the observational nature of the analyzes” and argue for a greater replication of the results with a greater emphasis on the models. causal.
In this way, scientists believe that it could “increase longevity and quality of life” by achieving “the reduction in the prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, aberrant neurocognitive development in adolescence and dementia in adulthood “.
Bmj, Rt, Youtube.
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