Binge Drinking As A Teenager Could Make You A More Anxious Adult

Beer-guzzling teenagers may be setting themselves up for a lifetime of anxiety or alcohol dependence.

Binge drinking — which 15 percent of high school students say they do, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — could affect brain development and behavior in adulthood, according to a study published March 23 in the journal Neurobiology of Disease.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago found that pounding down drinks during adolescence may disrupt gene expression and brain development, possibly contributing to behavioral changes in adulthood.