Published on
02/09/2026 - 6:52 GMT+2
Repeated alcohol exposure during adolescence disrupted communication between astrocytes — brain cells increasingly recognised for their role in neural signalling — and synapses – tiny contact points where neurons communicate with each other – in the hippocampus, a region important for learning and memory, researchers at Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine found.
The changes were still present after prolonged abstinence and were associated with altered fear-related behaviour in adulthood, researchers found in a preclinical rat model.
"Understanding why binge drinking specifically during adolescence worsens mental health outcomes and reduces overall quality of life is the goal of this research," Mary-Louise Risher, associate professor at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, said in a press release. "From these studies, we aim to increase public awareness and develop new therapeutic approaches to alleviate the long-term consequences of adolescent binge drinking.”
