Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Oct;38(10):2509-16.
doi: 10.1111/acer.12531. Epub 2014 Aug 25.

Age-related effects of alcohol from adolescent, adult, and aged populations using human and animal models

Lindsay M Squeglia  1 , Jeff Boissoneault, Candice E Van Skike, Sara Jo Nixon, Douglas B Matthews
Affiliations
Review

Age-related effects of alcohol from adolescent, adult, and aged populations using human and animal models

Lindsay M Squeglia et al. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Background: This review incorporates current research examining alcohol's differential effects on adolescents, adults, and aged populations in both animal and clinical models.

Methods: The studies presented range from cognitive, behavioral, molecular, and neuroimaging techniques, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of how acute and chronic alcohol use affects the brain throughout the life span.

Results: Age of life is a significant factor in determining the effect of alcohol on brain functioning. Adolescents and aged populations may be more negatively affected by heavy alcohol use when compared to adults.

Conclusions: Investigations limiting alcohol effects to a single age group constrains understanding of differential trajectories and outcomes following acute and chronic use. To meaningfully address the sequencing and interaction effects of alcohol and age, the field must incorporate collaborative and integrated research efforts focused on interdisciplinary questions facilitated by engaging basic and applied scientists with expertise in a range of disciplines including alcohol, neurodevelopment, and aging.

Keywords: Alcohol; Animal Model; Cognition; Development; Neuroimaging.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Acons K, Chan LS, Drummond G, Tiplady B. Effects of ethanol and promethazine on awareness of errors and judgements of performance. J Psychopharmacol. 2006;20:661–669. - PubMed
    1. Baird TJ, Vanecek SA, Briscoe RJ, Vallett M, Carl KL, Gauvin DV. Moderate, long-term, alcohol consumption potentiates normal, age-related spatial memory deficits in rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1998;22:628–636. - PubMed
    1. Bava S, Jacobus J, Thayer RE, Tapert SF. Longitudinal changes in white matter integrity among adolescent substance users. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2013;37:E181–E189. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Blazer DG, Wu LT. The epidemiology of at-risk and binge drinking among middle-aged and elderly community adults: national survey on drug use and health. Am J Psychiatry. 2009;166:1162–1169. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Boissoneault J, Sklar AL, Prather R, Nixon SJ. Acute effects of moderate alcohol on psychomotor, set shifting, and working memory function in older and younger social drinkers. J Stud Alcohol Drugs in press. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms