Journal of Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-6488
ISSN: 2329-6488
Paul Verbanck
Belgium
Research Article
Changes in the Innate Immune Responses by Intermittent Ethanol Consumption May Influence Cognition in Susceptible Adolescent Binge Drinkers
Author(s): Frédéric Lallemand, Roberta J Ward, Philippe De Witte, Géraldine Petit, Mélanie Saeremans, Paul Verbanck, Xavier Noel and Salvatore CampanellaFrédéric Lallemand, Roberta J Ward, Philippe De Witte, Géraldine Petit, Mélanie Saeremans, Paul Verbanck, Xavier Noel and Salvatore Campanella
Binge drinking is an increasing social problem, particularly in adolescents. Cognitive deficits may occur as a result of such drinking patterns, although the biochemical processes involved in such changes are unclear. Recent studies in a rat model of binge drinking have shown that the innate immune system is activated in both the periphery and a specific brain region, the hippocampus. It was therefore of interest to ascertain whether a) inflammatory markers were present in the blood of University students, N=24, identified as binge drinkers for at least 2 years, and b) whether cognitive function was impaired, by comparison to controls, N=24. There was a significantly increased mean plasma TNFα value in male binge drinkers by comparison to controls, P>0.007, while the female binge drinkers showed a significantly lower mean value for TNFα, ï€Â.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2329-6488.1000114