• A new study has investigated the linkages between alcohol consumption and hospitalized injury.
• Heavy drinkers face higher injury risks than most people when sober; conversely, their injury risk rises less when alcohol positive.
• Moderate drinkers who occasionally drink…

• Chronic misuse of alcohol can cause widespread damage to the brain.
• A new study uses cortical thickness measurements to examine alcohol-related tissue loss across the cortex.
• Results show most damage in the frontal and temporal brain regions, directly related to the…

Chronic alcoholism is often associated with a disturbed gait and balance, likely caused by alcohol damage to neural systems. While some studies have suggested that abstinence can lead to partial recovery of gait and balance functions, questions remain about duration of abstinence and sample size…

• Drinking can be influenced by both personal and societal factors, the latter leading to "drinking cultures."
• Researchers have completed a review of 31 studies on birth-cohort and gender differences in drinking.
• Analysis shows that people born after World War II are…

Alcohol is known to be carcinogenic to humans in the upper aerodigestive tract, liver, colorectum, and the female breast. Evidence suggests that acetaldehyde, the primary metabolite of alcohol, plays a major role in alcohol-related esophageal cancer. A new study using human cells has established…

• Alcohol is known to increase slow-wave sleep during the first half of sleep, but then become disruptive.
• A new study of the relationship between sleep and heart rate variability (HRV) during sleep has found that alcohol interferes with the restorative functions of sleep.
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• Excessive drinking and an unbalanced diet are two preventable contributors to health problems.
• A new study of adults in Spain has found that heavy drinking, binge drinking, a preference for spirits, and drinking alcohol at mealtimes were associated with a poor adherence to major…

• Gender differences exist in the prevalence, characteristics, and course of alcohol dependence (AD).
• Polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) are strong genetic determinants of AD.
• While inactive ALDH2 traditionally delays…

• A low level of response (LR) to alcohol is one of several genetically influenced characteristics that may increase an individuals risk for heavy drinking and alcohol problems.
• A new study has examined the LR model of risk among adolescents in the United Kingdom.
• …

• Alcohol dependence (AD) is strongly associated with impaired impulse control.
• A new study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine impulsive choices among people with a range of alcohol use disorders (AUDs).
• Findings suggest that impulsive choice in AD may…