Marshall University study links adolescent alcohol use to lasting brain changes

A new preclinical study from researchers at Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine indicates that excessive alcohol consumption during adolescence can cause lasting changes to brain structure and function. The research focused on the hippocampus, a brain region critical for learning and memory.

Using an animal model of repeated ethanol exposure, scientists found that alcohol disrupts communication between astrocytes and synapses. Notably, these alterations remained detectable even after prolonged periods of abstinence. The study also identified changes in fear-related behaviors in adulthood, suggesting that the impact of adolescent alcohol use extends beyond cellular function to behavioral outcomes.