New research explores number processing deficits in children with ADHD and fetal alcohol exposure, revealing distinct brain area effects. The study shows that children with fetal alcohol exposure demonstrate strong deficits in number comparison, while those with ADHD exhibit difficulties in attention and memory.
A recent study found that moderate alcohol drinkers were more likely to engage in computer tasks to receive high doses of amphetamines, indicating increased vulnerability to stimulant effects. The researchers suggest that moderate drinking may sensitize individuals to the reinforcing effects of amphetamines.
A new study found that energy drink consumption is strongly associated with increased risks for heavy drinking and alcohol dependence among young adults. High-frequency energy drink users were more likely to get drunk at an earlier age, drink more per session, and develop alcohol dependence compared to non-users or low-frequency users.
Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) show deficits in both delay and trace eyeblink conditioning, a finding that could aid in assessing and diagnosing FAS. Researchers tested 63 children on delay conditioning and found that 33% met the criteria compared to 79% of control group members.
New research finds that adolescents with a family history of alcohol abuse demonstrate decreased neural activity in the frontal lobe, suggesting a subtle vulnerability to future alcoholism. This study suggests that youth with familial alcoholism may have a less mature frontal system, making it harder to manage real-life situations.
A new study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that adolescent males who engage in heavy drinking are more likely to exhibit risk-taking behavior. The research followed over 500 first-grade boys from Pittsburgh until age 20 and found a significant correlation between heavy drinking and impulsive behavior.
A new study suggests that excessive alcohol use in adolescents can selectively damage the frontal lobe, leading to problems with attention and executive functioning. Abstinence from alcohol may help recover lost function in brain cells.
Research reveals that fetal alcohol exposure is associated with difficulties in memory and information processing, as well as visual perception and attention control. This finding may aid in the development of new therapies and treatments for children affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) or fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Research shows that certain areas in the brain associated with error processing are significantly affected by alcohol. Alcohol intake was found to increase reaction time and errors during a Go/No-Go reaction test, suggesting impaired cognitive control.
A new study finds that the CYP2E1 gene is associated with low sensitivity to alcohol and increased risk of alcoholism. The researchers suggest that this gene may be used as a predictor for individuals at risk of developing alcoholism.
A new study suggests that excessive drinking is associated with poor brain health due to obesity. Researchers found that high body mass index (BMI) was linked to lower brain metabolite levels and poorer brain function in individuals with alcohol dependence.
Chronic drinking increases levels of stress hormones called glucocorticoids, associated with neurotoxicity during abstinence after withdrawal from alcohol dependence. Glucocorticoid receptor antagonism may represent a pharmacological option for recovery.
A study found that individuals with a specific genotype of the GABRA2 gene may be more sensitive to alcohol odors, leading to stronger cravings and potentially increased risk of alcohol dependence. This suggests a genetic link between the brain's reward system and environmental cues.
Patients hospitalized with alcoholic liver disease have a significantly increased mortality risk compared to those with non-alcoholic liver disease. The study suggests that the key difference between the two conditions is alcohol dependence, which exacerbates social problems and disease progression.
A human study found an association between dysregulation of circadian clock genes and chronic drinking. Lower levels of mRNA in these genes were observed in alcohol-dependent patients, indicating disrupted circadian rhythm.
A new study found that individuals with alcohol dependence not only experience impaired episodic memory but also a distorted perception of their own cognitive abilities. This distortion leads to an overestimation of memory capacities and a failure to recognize actual memory deficits.
A new study confirms an association between moderate drinking and reduced mortality among older adults, but notes that the health benefits are complicated by underlying risks such as prior problem drinking and socioeconomic status. The study followed 1,824 older adults for 20 years and found that controlling for confounding factors sub...
Women respond equally to naltrexone as a treatment for alcohol dependence, with similar outcomes on various outcome measures. The study found that women initiate substance use at an earlier age than men, but progress more rapidly to severe consequences.
A study found that the gender of both the alcoholic parent and child influences psychopathology in children, with female parent-female child pairings showing the strongest effect. The findings suggest a significant positive relationship between parental alcoholism and increased risk of psychiatric illnesses in adult children.
A new study found that prenatal alcohol exposure has a greater impact on the attention of children born to older mothers. Children of older women are more vulnerable to the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, with increased cognitive-behavioral deficits and physical anomalies compared to younger mothers.
A study found a rise in drinkers across all three ethnic groups, with specific challenges faced by Blacks and Hispanics. Despite increased numbers of drinkers, alcohol consumption did not rise among Blacks and Hispanics.
Researchers created a preliminary neurobehavioral profile of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) using neuropsychological data from a multisite study. The results suggest that executive functioning and spatial processing are especially sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure, making these traits valuable in distinguishing between ch...
A new study suggests that exercise can reduce alcohol intake in humans by stimulating brain reward pathways and regulating circadian rhythms. Exercise may provide a beneficial alternative to reducing alcohol consumption, with the 'lazier' hamsters having a greater craving for alcohol when restricted from exercising.
A new study found that puberty is related to sleep problems and later bedtimes, associated with increased alcohol use in early adolescence. Puberty-dependent sleep regulation is an important factor explaining alcohol use in this age group.
A recent study found that religiosity during adolescence can moderate genetic effects on problem alcohol use, but not in young adulthood. The research suggests that adolescents raised with strong religious values are less likely to develop problems with alcohol use, even in the presence of a genetic predisposition.
A new study found that college students' alcohol-related traffic-risk behaviors significantly increase when they turn 21 years old. The prevalence and frequency of these behaviors, including driving after drinking or riding with an intoxicated driver, are more common among older students.
A new study found that impulsivity and alcohol consumption decrease significantly in 18-to-25-year-olds. The study analyzed data from 489 college students and identified five trajectory groups with distinct patterns of change. Individuals who decreased in impulsivity also showed the steepest decreases in alcohol use and related problems.
A new study found that hospital interventions can be more effective when focusing on alcohol-attributable illnesses, especially among patients with less severe drinking habits. Researchers suggest that addressing the link between physical health and drinking may motivate patients to change their behavior.
A recent study found that drivers who delay license reinstatement after suspension have higher recidivism rates and create danger on the roads. Drivers with more alcohol citations and prior DUI convictions are less likely to reinstate promptly.
A study found that alcohol abuse elevated specific genes in the nucleus accumbens, while nicotine blunted this effect. The research also identified a set of genes crucial for cell structure regulation, which were altered by both alcohol and nicotine abuse.
A study found that genetic variations in the ADH1B enzyme are associated with reduced rates of alcohol dependence and increased sedation. Individuals with this variant tend to drink less and experience a different response to alcohol, which may help protect against heavy drinking and its consequences.
A new study has found a long-term relationship between childhood sleep problems and subsequent alcohol and drug outcomes. Childhood sleep problems are associated with an increased risk of substance use and substance-related problems during young adulthood.
A new study has found that oral naltrexone can reduce both alcohol- and non-alcohol-related healthcare costs for patients with alcohol-use disorders. The medication was found to be effective in reducing healthcare expenditures, particularly among those with an alcohol-related diagnosis.
Researchers have identified four relatively simple measures of alcohol consumption that can accurately index the genetic risk for alcohol dependence in both women and men. These findings provide significant implications for risk identification and suggest that simpler measures of drinking behavior may be sufficient to capture the same ...
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are at a high risk of developing epilepsy or seizure history, according to a new study. Researchers found that six percent of individuals with FASD developed epilepsy and 12 percent had one or more seizures in their life.
A new study found that increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) among adults with alcohol dependence may indicate less control over drinking behavior. The ACC's role in regulating emotions and decision-making could be critical in understanding the development of addiction.
A new study examined gene networks instead of individual genes to confirm the influence of glutamate receptor signaling genes on a person's level of response (LR) to alcohol. The findings show that variation in sets of genes encoding components for neuronal communication contribute to individual differences in alcohol LR.
A genome-wide association study supports an association between alcohol dependence and genes on chromosome 11. The study identified a cluster of genes in this region that may contribute to the risk of developing alcoholism.
A new study found that elevated dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcoholic drinks can accelerate the metabolism and elimination of alcohol. This could provide clinical significance by allowing individuals to become sober faster, reducing acetaldehyde's side effects, and potentially decreasing alcohol-related accidents.
Research found that social factors contribute to vulnerability to alcohol use and abuse in older adults. Higher income, social activity level, and friend approval are linked to excessive drinking, while older men may be more susceptible to social influences on drinking.
A study found that prenatal alcohol exposure can alter the brain's developing pain regulatory system, causing a blunted response to painful events in newborns. Infants exposed to heavy prenatal alcohol had decreased physiological responses and lower stress hormone cortisol levels compared to those with little or no exposure.
Researchers found distinct neurophysiological patterns in ADHD symptoms between children with and without prenatal alcohol exposure, suggesting different underlying processes. The study's findings may provide new insights into the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on ADHD treatment.
A study in Brazil found that heavy alcohol use among the elderly is associated with more memory and cognitive problems than mild-to-moderate drinking, particularly among women. The study also revealed that older adults continue to drink throughout their lives.
A new study finds that alcohol-related injuries among underage youth and young adults are shaped by the density and types of alcohol outlets in neighborhoods. Off-premise outlets, such as take-out establishments and bars, are linked to higher injury rates, including accidents, assaults, and traffic crashes.
A new study finds that alcoholics can improve their postural sway with prolonged sobriety, but the improvement may not fully erase the problem of instability. Researchers found that stabilizing factors such as turning on a light or walking with feet apart can help improve standing stability in sober alcoholics.
A recent study found that genetic factors contribute to both alcohol and marijuana use, with shared genetic influences contributing to dependence symptoms. The research used a large annual survey of high-school students and found strong evidence for a genetic component to marijuana use and dependence.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that bourbon causes worse hangovers, but impairment in task performance is similar to vodka. Researchers recruited heavy drinkers and tested their sleep patterns, self-report symptoms, and neurocognitive measures after consuming bourbon or vodka.
A study found that Brief Motivational Interviewing (BMI) was more effective in reducing risky drinking among drivers with alcohol problems. The intervention led to significant declines in risky drinking and longer-lasting reductions compared to a control intervention.
A new trial study in Tomsk, Russia aims to integrate alcohol screening, treatment and referral into routine tuberculosis care. The study assesses the feasibility of delivering pharmacotherapy and behavioral treatments for alcohol use disorders alongside TB treatment, with promising results.
A new study using DTI found correlations between brain areas and mathematical ability in children with FASD. The left parietal area is crucial for math tasks, while other regions may be unique to FASD. This research sheds light on the cognitive deficits of FASD and may lead to better treatment.