Heavily Drinking In Teenage Years Can Affect Brain Function of Future Offspring

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine performed a study pertaining to binge drinking in teenagers. The main purpose of this study was to explain that binge drinking in teenage years can massively affect the brain function of future offspring. The study determined that teenage binge drinking can change the on-off switches of various genes in the brains of offspring. Constantly binge drinking during teenage years can alter the brain functions of future offspring. This can potentially put offspring at a high risk for depression, anxiety, and metabolic disorders.

An experiment was performed using  adolescent male and female rats that were exposed to large amounts of alcohol comparable to seven binge drinking episodes. After they became sober, the rats mated and the females continued to remain sober as they were pregnant. The rats that were exposed to alcohol were compared to a group of rats that were not exposed to alcohol. Researchers examined the offspring of the rats that were exposed to alcohol and look at the genes in their hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a part of the brain which is involved in many functions, such as reproduction, stress response, intake of food, and the sleep cycle. Researchers examined molecular changes in the DNA that reversed the on-off switches in individual genes. The results showed 159 changes in the of binge-drinking mother's offspring, 93 changes in binge-drinking father's offspring, and 244 gene changes in the offspring of both binge-drinking parents. 

This particular study is the first of many that prove teenage binge drinking by either parent can cause many alterations in the nervous system of potential offspring. Although the findings of an animal model may not primarily translate to human, there are various similarities between the animal used for the study and human, such as metabolism of alcohol, the way the hypothalamus functions and the pattern and amount of alcohol ingested. I believe that people do not know what the long term consequences of binge drinking are. We should do a better job making people aware because it is hurting the further generations and it is not fair to those children. Innocent children should not have to suffer because of their parents poor decisions regarding drinking, binge drinking does not make anything better, in fact it just makes things worse, long term and short term.

New Drug Reduces the Side Effects of Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is the most common form of excessive alcohol consumption in the US. Many who engage in binge drinking often experience its side effects. While the effects are passed off as a "hangover," the actual side effects do more damage than one would realize. 

Research has shown that binge drinking can cause brain cell loss and inflammation which can potentially lead to brain damage in the long term. This effect can be more prominent in adolescents whose brains are not yet fully developed. A research team led by Professor Mike Page from the University of Huddersfield revealed how a new compound called ethane-beta-sultam has recently reduced the effects of binge drinking in rats, and can reduce its brain damaging effects. 

Drugs for the brain are difficult to manufacture because they need to pass through the blood-brain barrier to be effective. The blood-brain barrier is a membrane that keeps harmful chemicals from penetrating through it and getting through to the brain. Because many drugs fail at this, it is the main reason why neurological disorders are so difficult to treat. Professor Page says that ethane-beta-sultam can break through this barrier. 

During a session of binge-drinking, glial cells (which play a role in the development of the blood-brain barrier) increase, thus attempting to protect the brain from alcohol. When binge-drinking test rats were given ethane-beta-sultam when they consumed alcohol, the number of glial cells in the brain were reduced, thus allowing the drug to enter the brain and reduced the inflammation and loss of brain cells commonly associated with binge drinking. 

When tested later, the rats that received the ethane-beta-sultam had a better memory compared to rats that did not receive the compound. The effects on these rats were either reduced, or returned to normal. Alcohol abuse has risen in the US, and the team has been taking heat for creating a drug that "potentially masks the effects of binge drinking."

Ethane-beta-sultam is not limited to aiding in the effects of binge drinking. Because of its ability to get through the blood-brain barrier, it could potentially lead to new treatments for neurological disorders. 

"But if you accept that alcohol abuse is going to continue, then it might be sensible for society to try and treat it in some way," said Professor Page. I agree with him completely. Because nothing is being done about the rising abuse of alcohol across the country, having a way to help those who participate in it from having severe neurological problems is a great tool to have.


Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286225.php 

Related Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141127082303.htm