Brain growth inhibited by excessive consumption of alcohol

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<div data-thumb = "https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/csz/news/tmb/2019/alcoholdrink.jpg" data-src = "https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/ newman / gfx / news / 2019 / alcoholdrink.jpg "data-sub-html =" Significant intake of ethanol reduces white matter growth rate in the brain of NHPs A. 3D representation of cortical white matter in Brain Growth Rate of White Substance in Control, Non-Heavy, and Heavy-Duty NHPs.The shadows above and below the regression lines represent a 95% confidence interval. : Shnitko et al. in Euro (2019) ">

The excessive consumption of alcohol in adolescents and young adults is not only dangerous in itself, but new research on non-human primates show that it can actually slow the growth of brain development.

The study, published today in the journal in Euro, shows that a high consumption of alcohol reduces the brain growth rate of 0.25 milliliter per year for every gram of alcohol consumed per kilogram of body weight. In human terms, this equates to four beers a day. Research has focused on rhesus macaque monkeys at Oregon's National Primate Research Center.

"Chronic alcohol auto-intoxication has reduced the growth rate of brain, cerebral white matter and sub-cortical thalamus," the researchers write.

The researchers measured brain growth by magnetic resonance imaging of 71 rhesus macaques who voluntarily consumed ethanol or alcohol. Scientists have accurately measured absorption, diet, daily schedules and health care, thus excluding other factors that could skew the results in observational studies involving people. The results of the study help validate previous research on the effect of alcohol consumption on brain development in humans.

"Human studies rely on the self-reporting of underage drinkers," said co-author Christopher Kroenke, Ph.D., badociate professor at the Division of Neuroscience at the Center for Primates. "Our measurements highlight the consumption of alcohol with impaired brain growth."

This new study is the first to characterize normal brain growth of 1 milliliter by 1.87 years in rhesus macaques in late adolescence and early adulthood. And it also reveals a decrease in the volume of different areas of the brain due to the voluntary consumption of ethanol.

Lead author Tatiana Shnitko, Ph.D., badistant research professor at the Primates Center's Division of Neuroscience, said previous research had shown that the brain had the ability to recover at least in part after the cessation of alcohol consumption. However, it is not clear that there will be long-term effects on mental functions as the brains of adolescents and young adults end their growth phase. The next stage of research will explore this question.

"This is the age range in which the brain is developed to fit the responsibilities of adults," Shnitko said. "The question is whether exposure to alcohol during this age range alters the individual's ability to learn from individuals?"

Provided by
University of Health and Sciences of Oregon