[OT] Long term effects of binge drinking

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/op...gewanted=print

This article talks about the long-term effects of binge-drinking
in one's adolescent years, when the brain is undergoing rapid
changes.

The research is in rats, but it applies to humans, I think. When
rats are exposed to alcohol in their adolescence, then given time
to recover, they do not learn as effectively. Oh sure, they can
learn a new task, but if you change the parameters of the task,
they have great difficulty in switching to the new parameters.
In one study, they can learn the location of an underwater
platform and swim to it, but they have difficulty learning to
swim to a different location if the platform is moved.

According to the researcher:

"The binges activate an inflammatory response in rat brains
rather than a pure regrowth of normal neuronal cells. Even after
longstanding sobriety this inflammatory response translates into
*a tendency to stay the course, a diminished capacity for
relearning and maladaptive decision-making*."

Sound like anyone we know?

FurPaw
--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dogs.

FurPaw <furrealpawdog@gmaildog.com> wrote:

> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/op...gewanted=print
>
> This article talks about the long-term effects of binge-drinking
> in one's adolescent years, when the brain is undergoing rapid
> changes.
>
> The research is in rats, but it applies to humans, I think. When
> rats are exposed to alcohol in their adolescence, then given time
> to recover, they do not learn as effectively. Oh sure, they can
> learn a new task, but if you change the parameters of the task,
> they have great difficulty in switching to the new parameters.
> In one study, they can learn the location of an underwater
> platform and swim to it, but they have difficulty learning to
> swim to a different location if the platform is moved.
>
> According to the researcher:
>
> "The binges activate an inflammatory response in rat brains
> rather than a pure regrowth of normal neuronal cells. Even after
> longstanding sobriety this inflammatory response translates into
> *a tendency to stay the course, a diminished capacity for
> relearning and maladaptive decision-making*."
>
> Sound like anyone we know?

Well, maybe it applies only to rats. ;-)

I binge-drank at the relevant age. It is what one does in Norway. But in
the 20 years since, I have learned plenty of new things, and I keep on
learning.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

On Sun, 30 Dec 2007 10:17:21 -0700, FurPaw
<furrealpawdog@gmaildog.com> wrote:

>"The binges activate an inflammatory response in rat brains
>rather than a pure regrowth of normal neuronal cells. Even after
>longstanding sobriety this inflammatory response translates into
>*a tendency to stay the course, a diminished capacity for
>relearning and maladaptive decision-making*."
>
>Sound like anyone we know?

Yeah, me. <sigh>

(the other) Dana
regretting my mis-spent youth.