understanding of whether the effects may be transient or more enduring. Although when demographic factors were controlled, AD predicted neuropsychological performance on 3 domains, the interaction effects of AD and demographic variables (specifically years of completed education and test language) cannot be ruled out. The possibility of pre-existing inhibitory problems also cannot be ruled out. Longitudinal follow-up of these adolescents would help demonstrate whether the findings are a result of alcohol abuse by examining the trajectory of neuropsychological performance in the context of adolescent neural maturation, ongoing ADs, other SUDs or spontaneous remission. Progressively deteriorating function would implicate repeated toxic insults (in the form of excessive doses of alcohol) at this critical phase of neurodevelopment. In individuals who cease abusive drinking one could ascertain whether (or to what degree) recovery of function occurs, or whether brain maturation is arrested at this stage.
