Unifesp study links adolescent alcohol use to lifelong impulse control issues

Research conducted at the Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-Unifesp) suggests that adolescent alcohol consumption can cause lasting behavioral changes that persist into adulthood. Using mouse models to simulate binge drinking, researchers found that high doses of alcohol during adolescence impair the development of the brain, specifically affecting the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control.

The study, supported by FAPESP and published in ‘Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research’ and ‘Physiology & Behavior’, indicates that these neurological impacts lead to an increased propensity for risk-taking behavior and a higher likelihood of continued alcohol consumption in later life.

In humans, the brain is one of the last organs to complete its formation, with regions related to decision-making not fully developing until approximately age 25. This makes the adolescent brain particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. In Brazil, while consumption by minors is prohibited, national data shows that 5% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 have experienced at least one episode of excessive alcohol consumption within a 30-day period.