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Alcohol Use in Adolescence and Later Working Memory: Findings From a Large Population-Based Birth Cohort
Liam Mahedy1, Matt Field2,3, Suzanne Gage2
1Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire)
|January 13, 2018
Summary
Heavy adolescent alcohol use may be linked to poorer working memory (WM) in later adolescence. This association weakened when accounting for other substance use, suggesting a complex relationship.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adolescent alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the long-term cognitive effects of adolescent substance use is crucial for prevention and intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between adolescent alcohol use patterns and working memory (WM) performance.
- To examine this relationship in a large population sample using longitudinal data.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).
- Assessed alcohol use at age 15 and WM at age 18 using the N-back task.
- Employed advanced statistical methods including multiple imputation and inverse probability weighting to address differential dropout and confounding variables.
Main Results:
- Frequent/binge alcohol use in mid-adolescence was associated with poorer performance on the 3-back task, even after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, prior WM, and head injury.
- This association was attenuated when further adjusted for concurrent cigarette and cannabis use.
- No significant association was found between frequent drinking and WM performance.
Conclusions:
- Weak evidence suggests a potential link between sustained heavy alcohol use in mid-adolescence and impaired WM three years later.
- While reverse causation cannot be entirely excluded, the study controlled for several potential confounders to explore the directionality of the relationship.
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