Effects of Persistent Binge Drinking on Brain Structure in Emerging Adults: A Longitudinal Study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Binge drinking (BD) in adolescence and early adulthood is linked to brain structure changes.
• Long-term alcohol effects on gray matter in persistent binge drinkers remain under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess cross-sectional and longitudinal group differences in brain gray matter (thickness, surface area, volume) in stable binge drinkers versus controls.
• To investigate the long-term impact of sustained binge drinking on neurodevelopment.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were acquired at baseline (18-19 years) and follow-up (20-21 years) over a 2-year interval.
• The study included 44 university students: 16 stable binge drinkers and 28 stable controls.
• Whole-brain and region of interest (ROI) analyses were performed using symmetric percent change (SPC) for longitudinal comparisons.

Main Results:

• Binge drinkers showed larger insular surface area at follow-up (p=0.045).
• A group by sex interaction in thickness revealed that males with BD had reduced right rostral middle frontal gyrus thickness compared to control males and BD females (p=0.005).
• Longitudinal analysis indicated a group by sex interaction in the right nucleus accumbens, with BD males exhibiting decreased volume over time compared to control males (p=0.009).

Conclusions:

• Sustained binge drinking during emerging adulthood is associated with gray matter abnormalities in brain regions vital for reward processing, emotional regulation, and executive functions.
• These neurodevelopmental changes exhibit sex-specific patterns, suggesting differential impacts of binge drinking on males and females.