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Measuring the interaction of brain networks could potentially help identify teens at risk for dangerous drinking, according to a novel study that explored how brain signals relate to future drinking behavior. Alcohol use commonly starts and escalates during adolescence, which is a key period for brain development. Drinking can alter brain development in ways that increase the risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Understanding which factors predispose some teens to heavier or more frequent alcohol use could help prevent AUD and its associated burdens. While previous research has examined the brain’s structure for clues to teens’ future drinking risk, a study of functional brain network dynamics—how brain regions communicate with each other from moment-to-moment—may hold more promise.
For the study in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Researchinvestigators in North Carolina explored whether brain network dynamics could help predict drinking in adolescents.
The researchers worked with MRI data from 295 17-year-old participants who either did not use alcohol or who drank lightly: 52% were female, 73% were white, and 11% were Hispanic. This data came from the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA). Participants underwent functional MRI scans—to measure their brain function at rest.
Using this data, investigators examined how participants’ brains moved through a sequence of brain “states,” the first time this approach has been applied to teen drinking. One year after their brain scans, the participants completed a questionnaire detailing their alcohol use since the scan.
The researchers used drinking frequency and drinking intensity (the largest amount of alcohol consumed in one time period) as behavioral markers. Statistical analysis explored the relationship between time spent in brain states at age 17 and drinking behavior over the next year. Analyses also explored whether findings varied by sex.
During the brain scans, time spent in various brain states was similar among those who used any alcohol in the year following their scans and those who did not. Among people who drank, however, researchers identified associations between the time spent in certain brain states and future drinking frequency.
More time in a state with high activation in the brain’s Default Mode Network—a network associated with mental health and behavior—was linked to fewer drinking days over the next year, suggesting that more time in that state may protect against future alcohol use. For other brain states, the relationships between time spent in the state and future drinking frequency differed by sex; this is the first study to find this difference.
Brain dynamics among teens who didn’t drink or drank lightly were linked to future drinking frequency but not to drinking intensity. It’s possible that brain dynamics, which may potentially flag vulnerability to AUD, are more informative about the regularity of behaviors than the sporadic intensity of behaviors.
Some variations in outcomes by sex should be interpreted cautiously until corroborated. In addition, although resting-state brain activity has been shown to indicate future behaviors, how teen brain dynamics might differ in a real-life environment is not known.
More information:
Mary Beth Miller et al, The Drinking Dashboard for alcohol‐induced blackout: A randomized pilot trial, Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research (2025). Two: 10.1111/ACR.70042
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Brain network activity may offer clues to future drinking behaviors of adolescents (2025, May 30)
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decoding Teen Drinking: Can Brain Scans Predict Risky Behavior? An interview with Dr. anya Sharma
Keywords: teen drinking, alcohol use disorder, brain scans, adolescent brain development, functional MRI, NCANDA, preventive measures, mental health, Default Mode Network
Time.news Editor: Dr. Sharma, thank you for joining us today. This new study on brain network activity and teen drinking is engaging. Can you break down the core findings for our readers?
Dr. Anya Sharma: Certainly. This study,published in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research,investigated whether functional MRI scans,which measure brain activity,could predict future drinking habits in adolescents. Researchers analyzed data from the NCANDA project, focusing on 17-year-olds’ brain activity at rest and then tracked their alcohol use a year later.
Time.news Editor: So, they looked at how different brain regions were interacting? Why is that crucial, compared to, say, just looking at brain structure?
Dr. Anya Sharma: Exactly.The novel aspect of this study is it’s focus on brain network dynamics – how brain regions communicate and change their activity patterns from moment to moment. Previous research often looked at brain structure, but this team hypothesized that the dynamic interplay between brain regions might be a more sensitive indicator of vulnerability to problematic teen drinking. They believe these moment-to-moment communications may provide unique insights.
Time.news Editor: What specific connections or “brain states,” as the study calls them, were most telling?
Dr. Anya Sharma: The researchers found that the amount of time spent in certain brain states at age 17 was associated with teen drinking frequency a year later. Interestingly, spending more time in a state with high activity in the Default Mode Network, or DMN, was linked to fewer drinking days. The DMN is involved in self-referential thought and mental health, so this suggests that a strong DMN might offer some protection against alcohol use.
Time.news Editor: That’s intriguing.What about the relationship between this brain activity and drinking intensity?
Dr. Anya Sharma: This is where it gets captivating.The study found that brain dynamics predicted teen drinking frequency but not intensity. The researchers suggest that these neural patterns might be more indicative of the regularity of a behavior rather than the occasional excessive episode. This might be as underlying vulnerability of alcohol use disorder are more connected to predictable behaviors.
Time.news Editor: The study also mentions differences based on sex. can you elaborate on that?
Dr. Anya Sharma: Yes, for some brain states, the relationship between time spent in the state and future teen drinking frequency differed between males and females. This is the first study to observe this difference using this specific methodology. Its crucial to note that these findings require further investigation to confirm their reliability. Further research is underway as additional data emerges from the NCANDA longitudinal study.
Time.news Editor: What are the broader implications of this research for addressing alcohol use disorder and possibly intervening to prevent it?
dr. Anya Sharma: The long-term potential is important. If we can identify adolescents at risk for problematic teen drinking through brain scans, we can potentially implement targeted prevention strategies. This could involve interventions that promote mental health, resilience, and informed decision-making about alcohol use.
Time.news Editor: What are the next steps for researchers in this field?
Dr. Anya Sharma: There are several key areas for future research. First, replicating these findings in larger and more diverse samples is crucial. Second, it’s important to understand how these resting-state brain dynamics translate to real-world situations. How do these brain networks behave when teens are facing peer pressure or experiencing stress? studies may explore the impact of interventions to reduce alcohol use on brain network dynamics to validate use as a predictive measure.
Time.news Editor: What advice would you give to parents or educators who are concerned about teen drinking?
Dr. Anya Sharma: Open dialog is paramount. Create a safe space for teens to discuss their thoughts and feelings about alcohol. Educate them about the risks of alcohol use, especially during adolescence when the brain is still developing.Encourage healthy coping mechanisms for stress and peer pressure.Given the link to mental health, it’s crucial to ensure that teens have access to mental health resources. Moreover, familiarize yourself with the signs of alcohol use disorder and seek professional help if you have concerns. Early intervention is key.
Time.news Editor: Dr. Sharma, thanks so much for your time and insights. This research offers a promising glimpse into the complex relationship between the brain and teen drinking, and we appreciate you helping our readers understand it better.
