Who among us has not turned to a vice when under an onslaught of stress? Whether it’s a pint of ice cream, endless video games or a glass of wine, we all have our means of coping.
Some of them, however, might leave an impact far beyond the intended stress relief — and one that is markedly more negative. Especially in the case of alcohol.
According to a study from scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, relying on alcohol to manage stress in early adulthood might result in lasting negative impacts to the brain. And no, they do not ebb with decades of sobriety.
In a study using mouse models, researchers found that mice would return to drinking when stressed even after long periods of cessation. There was little to no difference in ability to learn between mice that drank heavily and mice that drank lightly. But other changes emerged.
An area of their brains called the locus coeruleus [sih-roo-lee-us], responsible for thinking and decision-making, remained active in mice that tended to consume alcohol instead of switching off as needed. This reduced their ability to solve problems.
Most notably, middle-aged mice who once had a heavy drinking habit demonstrated reduced mental flexibility, or the ability to act quickly in new or changing situations. And, though further research is needed before we can apply these results to humans, it’s worth second-guessing that drink if it’s your only method of relief.
Into every life a little stress must fall. It’s better to find a more sustainable means of managing it, and ideally one that leaves your body feeling better, rather than worse. But did we mention the ice cream?