Schedule of Events | Symposia

Sketchpad Series

Neurodevelopment in Adolescence: Alcohol's Impact and the Role of Prevention Programs

Poster Session E - Monday, March 31, 2025, 2:30 – 4:30 pm EDT, Back Bay Ballroom/Republic Ballroom

Sanjana Kalagara¹ (sk766@duke.edu), Jennifer E. Lansford¹; ¹Duke Unviersity

Adolescent alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern, with 62% of 12th graders having abused alcohol. The adolescent brain, undergoing significant structural and functional changes until the mid-20s, is particularly susceptible to alcohol-induced alterations in key areas such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens. Investigating alcohol use among adolescents and prevention programs targeting various levels of influence is essential for remedying this issue. This work aims to explore the neurodevelopmental effects of alcohol during adolescence through a systematic review of peer-reviewed scientific literature focusing on neuroimaging data. The databases used for searching articles were PubMed, Web of Science, and APA PsychInfo, and the article analysis was conducted using Covidence software guided by the PRISMA criteria. The articles (N = 1739) were analyzed through an initial title/abstract review followed by a full text review. Inclusion criteria focus on studies published after 2000, involving adolescents aged 10-19, with a non-alcohol using control group, and utilizing neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI or MRI. Articles that did not meet these criteria were excluded. Next, the full text review (N = 246) will begin, and standardized data will be extracted from the articles. Simultaneously, professionals in the prevention education industry will be interviewed regarding their experiences with alcohol prevention programs. These interviews will be conducted between January and March 2025. The novel findings collected from the Systematic Review and interviews have the potential to make significant contributions to alcohol research and be used to inform programs and policies in schools.

Topic Area: NEUROANATOMY