Teens and Booze: Could Genes Prompt Kids to Drink?
Published Apr 23, 2013
Did you know that more than 11 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States is drunk by people under the legal age of 21, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? Add to that the fact that 90 percent of this alcohol is consumed in the form of binge drinking, and you will probably agree that teen drinking continues to be a big health and safety issue.
There’s no doubt that peer pressure often plays a major role in a teen’s decision whether or not to drink. But research published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) suggests that some teens may be more biologically prone to drinking alcohol than others – and it has to do with the brain.
A Genetic Predisposition to Drinking
Researchers at King’s College in London discovered that the presence of a specific gene called RASGRF2 may increase a person’s risk for alcohol abuse. How? The study found that alcohol caused the gene to activate an area of the brain involved in the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes us feel rewarded and happy. In study subjects that didn’t have the gene, the consumption of alcohol didn’t activate that region of the brain and no extra dopamine was released, hence inhibiting any sense of reward or pleasure.
According to the study’s lead author, “If people have a genetic variation of the RASGRF2 gene, alcohol gives them a stronger sense of reward, making them more likely to be heavy drinkers.”
So how does this relate to teen drinking? The study conducted brain scans on nearly 700 14-year-old boys who were not exposed to significant levels of alcohol at the time, and noted whether or not they had the RASGRF2 gene. Researchers followed up two years later with the same group of boys, now age 16, and found that the ones with a variation of the gene were more frequent and heavier drinkers than those without the gene.
Consequences of Teen Drinking
The consequences of teen drinking can be wide and deep. It’s known that kids who drink alcohol are more likely to have social problems and are at a much greater risk for alcohol-related physical injuries and death. There’s also evidence that early drinking can have debilitating effects on the development of the brain. We know that our brains keep developing well past our 21st birthdays, and excessive alcohol over the course of these important early years can adversely affect both brain structure and function, leading to life-long cognitive and behavioral issues.
As with many health problems, prevention is key. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has a helpful factsheet on teen drinking, prevention and the role that parents and teachers can play. Other helpful resources for concerned adults and parents include the Partnership at Drugfree.org and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Mind your health,
Dr. Keith Black