Brain Activity in Teens May Predict Alcoholism

A new study has found that certain factors in teens’ brains may be able to predict which youths are susceptible to falling prey to alcoholism. The study, conducted by the University of California San Diego, used a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner, or fMRI, to see the teens’ brain activity in the areas of short-term memory, planning, and task organizing. Because people’s brains don’t finish developing until their mid-twenties, looking into teenage brains helps scientists look into how the brain responds to alcohol dependence.

Parents should take care that some teens may just be physically or physiologically vulnerable to alcohol abuse. Researchers also said that working with teens on improving their problem-solving skills and organization can help lower the risk for alcohol dependence. Lindsay Squeglia, the study leader, said that she recommends “talking to adolescents about the effect of alcohol use on the brain. This [the teenage years] is a really import neurodevelopmental period.” The teenage years are a very hard time for most kids, even without being physically susceptible to alcoholism.

If you’re worried about your teens and alcohol, you should take action before their development is affected. However, even if your teens happen to be vulnerable to alcoholism, there is good help available. Detoxification and behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating alcoholism. Addicts are often unable to complete treatment on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to seek the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about alcohol, addiction, and treatment.