The amount of alcohol consumed during adolescence adversely affected verbal learning and memory (VLM) performance in a dose-dependent manner.
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‘The amount of alcohol consumed during adolescence adversely affects verbal learning and memory (VLM) performance in a dose-dependent manner.’
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Researchers examined participants who were known to begin drinking during adolescence (n=112), giving them VLM assessments at two different times: first, prior to the onset of drinking (at age 12-16); and second, approximately six years later. Participants were grouped, based on their alcohol involvement at follow-up, as moderate (less than four drinks per occasion), binge (more than five drinks per occasion), or extreme-binge (10+ drinks per occasion) drinkers. 
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Results showed that the amount of alcohol consumed during adolescence adversely affected VLM performance in a dose-dependent manner. The acquisition of new verbal information seemed to be particularly affected, especially for the heaviest drinkers. While there were no gender differences in VLM performance, the authors note that the extreme-binge group had roughly 50% more boys than the moderate and binge groups, which is consistent with data showing that high-school boys are up to three times more likely to be extreme-binge drinkers.
Source-Newswise