Data from brain imaging studies provide parallel evidence in humans of neurotoxic effects of alcohol on the brain. A number of studies have reported altered brain structure and function in alcohol-dependent or -abusing adolescents and young adults compared to healthy individuals. These studies show smaller frontal and hippocampal volumes, altered white matter microstructure and poorer memory 109–113. Moreover, these studies show positive associations between hippocampal volumes and age of first use 109 suggesting that early adolescence may be a period of heightened risk to alcohol’s neurotoxic effects. Duration, which was negatively correlated with hippocampal volume, may compound this effect.
