Abstract
Binge drinking has significant effects on memory, particularly with regards to the transfer of information to long-term storage. Partial or complete blocking of memory formation is known as blackout. Youth represents a critical period in brain development that is particularly vulnerable to alcohol misuse. Animal models show that the adolescent brain is more vulnerable to the acute and chronic effects of alcohol compared with the adult brain. This mini-review addresses the neurobiological underpinnings of binge drinking and associated memory loss (blackout) in the adolescent and young adult period. Although the extent to which there are pre-existing versus alcohol-induced neurobiological changes remains unclear, it is likely that repetitive binge drinking in youth has detrimental effects on cognitive and social functioning. Given its role in learning and memory, the hippocampus is a critical region with neuroimaging research showing notable changes in this structure associated with alcohol misuse in young people. There is a great need for earlier identification of biological markers associated with alcohol-related brain damage. As a means to assess in vivo neurochemistry, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has emerged as a particularly promising technique since changes in neurometabolites often precede gross structural changes. Thus, the current paper addresses how MRS biomarkers of neurotransmission (glutamate, GABA) and oxidative stress (indexed by depleted glutathione) in the hippocampal region of young binge drinkers may underlie propensity for blackouts and other memory impairments. MRS biomarkers may have particular utility in determining the acute versus longer-term effects of binge drinking in young people.
Highlights
Binge drinking (BD) is the dominant type of alcohol misuse in young people (SAMHSA, 2009; Archie et al, 2012; Hermens et al, 2013)
Single incident-excessive alcohol consumption or BD is often accompanied with adverse effects
A universal definition of BD remains lacking, it is generally accepted that it refers to “a single drinking session leading to intoxication” (Berridge et al, 2009)
Summary
Binge drinking (BD) is the dominant type of alcohol misuse in young people (SAMHSA, 2009; Archie et al, 2012; Hermens et al, 2013). Single incident-excessive alcohol consumption or BD is often accompanied with adverse effects These include increased risk of injury or accidental death, drink driving, unsafe sexual practices, periods of unconsciousness, as well as an increased likelihood of being a perpetrator or victim of assault (Bonomo et al, 2004; Mundt et al, 2012). The USA’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA, 2017) has a more specific definition of: “a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL.”. This would be within a period of about 2 h, which “typically occurs after four drinks for women and five drinks for men.”.
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