Adolescent Binge Drinking Causes Persistent Hippocampal Disruption in Rat Models
A preclinical study from Marshall University reveals that repeated alcohol exposure during adolescence causes lasting structural and functional changes in the brain. Researchers found that binge drinking disrupts communication between astrocytes and synapses in the hippocampus, a region critical for memory. These alterations persisted even after prolonged abstinence and were linked to altered fear-related behaviors in adulthood. The findings suggest that adolescent alcohol use may have more severe long-term consequences than previously understood, potentially opening avenues for astrocyte-targeted therapies to mitigate these effects.