The circadian CLOCK gene in the nucleus accumbens shell plays a crucial role in binge drinking behaviors in mouse models. Read More
Study reveals binge drinking is associated with more widespread neural dysfunction than previously believed. In those who binge drink, the visual areas of the brain show unusually high levels of activation. Additionally, those who binge drink have more difficulty in feeling empathy for others. Read More
One in three women between the ages of 18 and 24 report saving their calories for binge drinking episodes. Researchers say the behavior can contribute to what they call "drunkorexia," characterized by disordered patterns of eating to offset the negative effects of excess alcohol consumption, such as weight gain. Read More
Turning off kappa opioid receptors in the brain decreases the urge the binge drink. Findings suggest the kappa opioid receptor system is important not only for the negative state of withdrawal but also for driving binge drinking behaviors. Read More
Marijuana use rates are increasing in college students in states where recreational use has been legalized. Following cannabis legalization, binge drinking rates between the cohort group fell significantly. Read More
Hangxiety, the feeling of waking up with anxiety the morning after heavy drinking, is a common symptom associated with a hangover. Researchers explain how a heavy night's drinking alters neurochemistry, leaving some of us prone to waking with anxiety. Read More
Researchers explore the biology behind hangovers, including how excessive alcohol consumption alters glutamate, serotonin, and dopamine. The paper also examines how to reduce the effects of a heavy night's drinking. Read More
A network linking the medial prefrontal cortex and brainstem plays a critical role in the development of compulsive drinking disorder and is a driver for its expression. Read More
Teenage binge drinking is linked to altered gene expression in the brain, specifically the central nucleus of the amygdala. Adolescent rats exposed to alcohol had increased levels of miR-137, resulting in lower expression of proteins essential for healthy neuron growth. During adulthood, these rats displayed higher levels of anxiety and an increased preference for alcohol consumption. Read More
As many as one in ten older adults frequently binge drink, a new study reports. The risk of binge drinking in older adults is higher for males and for those who smoke or use cannabis. Read More
Drinking small amounts of alcohol, like one pint of beer or a large glass of wine, significantly impairs our feeling of being in control of our actions. A new study reveals even one beer can lead to overconfidence in driving ability and make us act in inappropriate, potentially dangerous ways. The study begs the question, are current alcohol limits for driving truly safe? Read More
A shared brain network may explain why high alcohol consumption and junk food cravings go hand in hand. Read More
