Did you know that brain growth is inhibited by excessive consumption of alcohol?

A study conducted by the Oregon National Primate Research Center in the United States, shows that high alcohol consumption can slow the growth rate of the brain.

The study, published 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.

What is the link between brain growth and excessive alcohol consumption?

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

The researchers measured brain growth by magnetic resonance imaging of 71 rhesus macaques that consumed ethanol or alcohol.

Scientists have precisely measured ingestion, 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 are based on the self-reporting of underage drinkers," said co-author Christopher Kroenke, Ph.D., badociate professor at the Center's Division of Neuroscience 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 ethanol consumption.

Deepen brain growth

Lead author, Tatiana Shnitko, Ph.D., badistant research professor at the Primate Center's Division of Neuroscience, explained how previous research had shown that the brain had the ability to recover at least in part after the cessation of the consumption of alcohol.

However, it is unclear whether long-term effects on mental functions could occur when the brain of adolescents and young adults end its growth phase, or that excessive alcohol consumption could lead to chronic diseases. The next stage of the research will deepen this question.

"This is the age group where the brain is developed to fit the responsibilities of adults," adds Shnitko.

"The question is whether alcohol exposure in this age group changes the learning ability over the life of individuals?"