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DrugScreening.org


 

Study: Any Alcohol Consumption Affects Brain
November 12, 2002

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Research Summary

New research confirms that drinking even small amounts of alcohol confuses the brain, the BBC reported Nov. 8.

A study by researchers at the University of Amsterdam found that just two glasses of wine or a pint of beer could cloud a person's judgment.

According to Dr. Richard Ridderinkhof, who led the study, a blood-alcohol reading of just 0.04 percent left people unaware that they were making mistakes.

"Usually after a person makes an error, the brain would tell them to slow down. However, after drinking alcohol this sort of control mode is diminished. It's almost gone," said Ridderinkhof.

Researchers said that alcohol's impact on the brain should serve as a warning not to drive after any amount of drinking.

"Whereas it is difficult to generalize to a real-life situation, until we know more precisely a cut-off point this certainly would be an indication that drinking and driving together is not a good combination," said Ridderinkhof.

The study's findings were based on an evaluation of the brain activity of 14 men who were social drinkers.

The results of the research are published in the journal Science.

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