The current data, although generally consistent with the notion that heavy alcohol use in adolescence is associated with decreased volume in hippocampal and prefrontal regions, as well with frontal white matter abnormalities (De Bellis et al., 2000; De Bellis et al., 2005), need to be confirmed by more detailed studies of ‘pure’ samples such as this one. To that end, we will augment these data in the near future with analysis structural MRI and electrophysiological data on brain function and the presence of neurophysiological endophenotypes, as well as with measures of behavior and personality. Such data in this unique sample will prove invaluable in determining the characteristics of such factors in ‘pure’ adolescent AD.
