Binge drinking in early adulthood may lead to enduring brain dysregulation, according to a study by Penn State researchers published in the Neurobiology of Aging. The study, conducted on mice, indicates that changes in neurons following binge drinking resemble those associated with cognitive decline.
The findings suggest that early-life binge drinking could predict future health issues, including Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Nikki Crowley, director of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute, emphasizes the potential for developing therapeutics to address these changes, particularly for aging populations who may have ceased alcohol consumption years prior.
Crowley noted, “We know from previous studies that there are immediate effects of binge drinking on the brain, but we didn’t have any sense of if these changes were long-lasting.” The research involved a binge drinking regimen in mice, simulating human drinking patterns, where mice had access to alcohol every four days for four weeks during their early adulthood phase, equivalent to early 20s in humans.
After a six-month alcohol abstinence period, electrophysiology studies revealed persistent effects on brain cells. Pyramidal neurons, responsible for excitatory signaling, showed decreased communication ability, while GABAergic neurons, which inhibit activity, exhibited increased excitatory drive.
Crowley stated, “Even after a six-month break from drinking, we could still detect the negative impacts of binge drinking on neuron regulation.” The research highlights the importance of understanding the long-term effects of binge drinking on cognitive health.
Looking forward, Crowley’s team aims to explore treatment options, including somatostatin, to mitigate cognitive decline related to alcohol use. “Binge drinking in young adulthood is something that is preventable or can be moderated,” she concluded.