A new study links alcohol consumption, particularly beer and liquor, to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The risk increases with greater alcohol intake, even with moderate drinking (around one drink a day for women or two for men).
Researchers have shown that heavy alcohol use leads to long-term cognitive impairments by damaging brain circuits responsible for decision-making in a rat model. The effects were found in the dorsomedial striatum, a decision-making hub, and were linked to poor judgment and relapse in people with alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol's widespread acceptance and cultural significance among teenagers in Western countries lead to high rates of binge drinking, which can negatively impact adolescent brain development and lead to long-term structural and functional alterations in the brain.
- "leading risk factor for premature death and disability in people aged 15-49"
- "leading risk factor for premature death and disability in people aged 15-49"
