Researchers have found that brain development is not finished within the first few years of life, but continues to undergo refinement in several important regions at least into a persons early twenties. Introducing alcohol during this developmental stage may cause permanent damage.
Extensive studies comparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brains of adolescents 14 to 21 years old who had abused alcohol with a similar population of those who did not drink showed significant differences. One of the most startling results was that the drinkers had, on average, a 10 percent smaller hippocampus.
The hippocampus is a part of the brain that helps us not only to file away memories but also to connect these memories to other related memories in order to give them meaning. This kind of unconscious recognition is crucial for reasoning and learning. In fact, studies have shown that alcohol damage to the hippocampus during the adolescent years results in problems with vocabulary and visual-spatial learning. Furthermore, those with this type of damage perform poorly in school, often falling behind and experiencing social problems, depression, and even suicidal thoughts as a result.
Alcohol ingestion during adolescence can also damage the prefrontal area of the brain. This is an area that is often called the CEO of the brain because it helps us to sort through conflicting thoughts and make decisions based upon what is socially acceptable or what is the best thing to do in a certain situation. The prefrontal area of the brain plays an important part in the formation of adult personality and behavior.
Many experts believe that those who drink frequently during the period of time that the brain is developing may never catch up with important learning and emotional and social growth that is missed due to alcohol use.
Posted By: Vee