Adolescent binge drinking: Neurocognitive consequences and gender differences

BACKGROUND: Binge drinking by adolescents and young adults is on the increase and is having serious medical and social consequences. Over the last ten years more and more research has been done into the neurocognitive effects of binge drinking and into the possibility that these effects are gender-specific. However, so far, findings have been inconsistent. AIM: To collect evidence for the negative impact of binge drinking on the neurocognitive functioning of adolescents and young adults and to find out whether binge drinking has a more serious effect on neurocognition in females than in males. METHOD: We searched the literature using PubMed and Web of Science. RESULTS: Nineteen studies satisfied our selection criteria. Eleven studies examined the binge/gender interaction. CONCLUSION: There is considerable evidence that binge drinking does have a negative effect on neurocognition in adolescents and young adults, particularly with regard to executive functioning and memory. Females seem to be more susceptible than males to deficits in spatial working memory and impulse control. Language: nl