Alcohol decreases brain development in adolescents between the ages of 16 and 20. Studies performed by the American Medical Association (AMA) have shown an adverse effect on the sections of the brain that control memory, learning, verbal skills, adult personality and behavior. Between the ages of 16 and 20, the hippocampus and the prefrontal area of the brain undergo dramatic developmental changes. As alcohol is introduced into the system, the development of these two areas is up to 10 percent smaller in adolescents than adults.
Studies performed by the AMA on adolescent drinkers show a decrease in verbal skills, long- and short-term memory retention, social skill, as well as lower performance in school. Adolescent drinkers are also at a greater risk of falling behind and being unable to catch up to with their peers. Underage drinkers are at a greater risk of developing higher diastolic blood pressure and an escalated risk of stroke. Developing cirrhosis of the liver as an adult is also increased by adolescent drinking.
An increase in depression, suicidal thoughts and violence has also been noted. A rapid decline in the ability to obtain adult goals such as marriage, financial independence, career development and education has been shown.
Sleep patterns are also disrupted which also attributes to the memory and learning reduction. Lack of sleep, in turn, increases the risk of depression and impairs the release of hormones for growth and development of maturity. Statistics from the AMA show a significant increased risk of becoming an alcoholic if the adolescent continues drinking into adulthood. The risks of continued drinking into adulthood can include, but is not limited to, problems with the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, immune system and endocrine system. Cardiovascular risks consist of Dysrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms), Hypertension (high blood pressure), Cardiomyopathy (disorder of the heart muscle), heart failure, and Beriberi heart disease (lack of thiamine).
A few of the Gastrointestinal risks are Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), ulcers, Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (thiamine deficiency) and cirrhosis (liver disease).
A couple of the immune system deficiencies are a depressed immune system and an increased vulnerability to infections. Risks to the endocrine system include testicular atrophy (shrinking of the testicles), gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue in men), irregular menses and decreased libido.
