In my opinion there should be more research done on this due to the amount of alcohol drank by adolescents. I also do not believe that these findings are concrete evidence of behavior changes. For all we know humans could metabolize alcohol completely differently then rats. Our brain structure could also develop much differently than that of mice. Then again I am in no way shape or form an expert on this topic. However more funding should definitely go towards research like this.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Alcohols Impact On the Adolescent Brain
According to a new study at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine suggests that on and off exposure to alcohol during adolescence can alter the activity of genes for normal brain development. According to the researchers this type of behavior increases anxiety and preference for alcohol in adulthood. This happens epigenetically when alcohol modifies the histones which could change how tightly or loosely wound DNA becomes.During this study the researchers used rats to gather their data. This study also discovered that a drug called HDAC2 could reverse these effects.
Labels:
alcohol,
Brain Development,
HDAC2
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This seems like a good place for research, especially with the amount of alcohol that is consumed by teenagers in high school and then throughout college. I would agree that these findings may not be concrete either because a human's brain is far more developed then a rat's and even though we can be affected, I don't believe that humans would be affected on the same level. Typically a person's brain isn't done fully developing until they're into their 20's so effects can probably be seen throughout longer than adolescence.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that this is a good place for research. So many people try alcohol way before they are legally able to consume alcohol that this would be a good way to promote waiting until the legal age to start drinking alcohol.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very interesting. I always knew alcohol intake wasn't exactly "good" for you, but to even alter brain development into your adulthood is scary. I agree that they should keep exploring this field and try new experiments to find even more evidence involving the risks of alcohol since this will eventually become relevant for everyone.
ReplyDeleteIts very interesting to see how alcohol can have such an impact in the brain of adolescents and caused anxiety. I do agree with you about further research and if they could also expand this research to other countries were alcohol is legally consumed and accepted at a young age.
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