The damage that alcohol does to the brains of teenagers and young adults

The damage that alcohol does to the brains of teenagers and young adults

In many cultures, it is common for young people to drink. Whether it’s a glass of wine with dinner at home or beer and several “sneaky” vodka drinks with friends on a night out, many people start drinking alcohol at a young age, sometimes as teenagers. However, what does this mean for young adult development and long-term health?

Scientists are just beginning to understand the impact of alcohol on their bodies. And the news is not encouraging. On the contrary, the damage that alcohol intake causes to people in this age group is worse than to individuals over 30 years of age.

Curious? Check out this gallery to learn more.

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Alcohol is a toxin

It’s no big secret that alcohol is a toxin. We have known for years that, despite being enjoyable for many people, drinking alcohol carries several risks.

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Associated risks

The risks associated with drinking alcohol, even in small amounts, can include fatal accidents, liver disease and many types of cancer.

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WHO Council

In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated, “When it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that will not affect health.”

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Cost benefit

The problem is that people tend to like drinking. For many of us, the benefits of having a glass or two of wine far outweigh the risks.

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Limit the damage

For this reason, the objective of public policies in many countries around the world is to encourage harm limits by promoting moderate alcohol consumption.

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Council in the USA

In the US, for example, the general advice is to drink a maximum of two drinks a day for men and one drink for women. Many other countries have the same guidance.

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Types of alcohol

According to US guidelines, the type of alcoholic beverage is not important, although many people consider beer and wine to be safer than other “stronger” beverages.

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Volume is what matters

Instead, it’s the volume of alcohol that matters. For example, a 355 ml beer contains approximately the same amount of alcohol as a 148 ml glass of wine or a 44 ml shot of liquor.

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Alcohol and teenagers

When it comes to alcohol consumption among young people, public policies tend to focus on protecting children while giving young adults the freedom to make their own choices.

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Drinking age

It is for this reason that the legal drinking age is set at 18 in many countries, such as Brazil. In the US, the limit is slightly higher, 21.

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The limits are very low

However, both age groups can be very young. According to research, the impact of alcohol is particularly toxic for young adults in ways that we are only now beginning to understand.

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Size and shape

Firstly, alcohol is most dangerous for young people who have just passed the legal drinking age because they have not yet reached their full body size and shape.

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Size and shape

In fact, today’s teenagers only reach adult height at age 21, and even when they do, they don’t have the bulk or weight of people in their 30s and 40s.

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Blood alcohol content

Alcohol consumption results in a higher blood alcohol content for young people than for adults, which in turn means greater toxicity.

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Big heads

Young adults also tend to have a higher head-to-body ratio, i.e., a larger head. They are more likely to look a bit like a “bobblehead” toy, that type of doll with an oversized head compared to the body.

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Intoxication levels

This is problematic when it comes to alcohol consumption because these relative proportions determine the level of intoxication a person can experience.

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Five minutes to get to the brain

When someone drinks alcohol, it enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. In five minutes, it reaches the brain.

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Blood-brain barrier

Alcohol easily crosses the blood-brain barrier, which generally protects the precious brain from harmful substances.

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Alcohol poisoning

For young adults, a relatively large proportion of the alcohol they drink ends up in the brain. This is another reason why they are more likely to experience alcohol poisoning.

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Long-term development

It is also believed that drinking during adolescence can harm brain development in the long term. Studies have shown that it can cause a faster decline in gray matter and slow the development of white matter.

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Cognitive function

Although the long-term impact of teenage alcohol consumption may not be immediately evident, over time these effects will begin to show up on cognitive tests.

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Gradual decline

According to neuropsychologist Lindsay Squeglia, “After several years of drinking, we see less activation in the brain and worse performance on these tests.”

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Effect on mental health

Evidence also suggests that early alcohol consumption has a considerable impact on mental health and makes people more susceptible to alcohol abuse later in life.

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Family history

This appears to be particularly true for people with a family history of alcohol abuse. The sooner they start, the more likely they are to develop a problem.

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The European model

So how can we protect our young people from the dangers of drinking alcohol? Many people would argue that the European model, where parents allow their children and teenagers to drink in moderation at home, should be encouraged.

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The ‘forbidden fruit’ can be tempting

The idea is that by being exposed to alcohol in a safe environment, young people will not see alcoholic beverages as some kind of “forbidden fruit” to abuse when they finally come of age. But does this concept work?

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Ending the myth

However, evidence suggests that this theory is not true. In fact, research shows that the more liberal a parent is about alcohol consumption, the more likely a child is to develop a drinking problem later in life.

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Does raising the legal age solve the problem?

On the other hand, simply raising the legal drinking age to 25, as has been suggested, doesn’t seem like a good idea either. People will likely perceive this as an attack on their personal freedom.

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A solution?

Perhaps, for now, the goal should be to provide young people with more information about the risks of alcohol consumption and how it can affect the maturing brain.

Sources: (BBC) (NIAAA)

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