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MANUSCRIPT 

Neurodevelopmental Consequences of 

Alcohol Abuse in Hispanic Adolescents (Ages 

13-19) in the Rio Grande Valley: A Review of 

Cognitive and Structural Brain Impacts 
 

Marisol Acosta1, Jessica P. Carvajal1,3,  Natalia Del Castillo1,3, Valeria I. Garcia1,2,Kaitlyn R. Lewis1,2, 

Hannah N. Navarro1,2,  Dominic R. Policarpio1,2,  Kai R. Saenz1,2 

 

1DHR Health High School and Community Outreach  
2 South Texas ISD Health Professions  
3 South Texas ISD Medical Professions 
 
Received: June 21, 2024  

Accepted for publication: February 5, 2025  

Introduction 

This literature review examines the neurodevelopmental consequences of alcohol abuse in 

Hispanic adolescents (ages 13-19) residing in the Rio Grande Valley. The review focuses on the 

cognitive and structural brain impacts of alcohol abuse within this specific demographic and 

geographic context. While research on alcohol's effects on the developing brain is extensive, 

studies specifically targeting Hispanic adolescents in the Rio Grande Valley are limited. This 

review synthesizes existing literature to identify key findings, research gaps, and areas needing 

further investigation. The unique cultural and socioeconomic factors within the Rio Grande 

Valley will be considered where relevant data allows. 

Alcohol Use Patterns in Hispanic Adolescents of the Rio Grande Valley 

Understanding the prevalence and patterns of alcohol abuse among Hispanic adolescents in the 

Rio Grande Valley is crucial for contextualizing the neurodevelopmental consequences. While 

precise data specific to this demographic and region may be scarce, broader studies on Hispanic 

populations and border communities offer valuable insights. Research indicates that 

acculturation significantly influences alcohol use patterns among Hispanics.4 Men identifying as 

"very Mexican" or "bicultural" exhibit higher risks of alcohol abuse and dependence compared to 

their "very Anglo" counterparts.4 Conversely, women show increased heavy episodic drinking as 

they acculturate, potentially reflecting shifting social norms surrounding alcohol consumption for 

females in U.S. society.4 This suggests a non-linear relationship between acculturation and 



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alcohol-related disorders, varying by gender and potentially influenced by unique social 

dynamics prevalent in border regions like the Rio Grande Valley.4 The study by Courtney and 

Polich highlights the epidemiological rise of binge drinking among college-age men and its 

cognitive implications, which may extend to adolescent populations, underscoring the need for 

further research on this specific demographic in the Rio Grande Valley.5 Furthermore, research 

on problem drinking among adolescents (ages 15-19) indicates an average of 5 drinks per 

occasion and consumption on 38% of days during a monitoring week.6 This pattern of binge 

drinking is concerning given its association with serious alcohol-related problems, particularly its 

impact on frontal lobe functions and working memory.5,7 

Cognitive Impacts of Alcohol Abuse  

Alcohol abuse significantly impacts cognitive function, particularly during adolescence, a critical 

period of brain development.1-3 The prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum are 

especially vulnerable to alcohol's damaging effects, impacting executive functions, memory, and 

motor control.1,2 Studies using neuropsychological assessments have demonstrated cognitive 

deficits in adolescents with alcohol use disorders, including impairments in executive functions, 

which are crucial for planning, decision-making, and inhibitory control.2 The study by Crespi et 

al. utilized joint Independent Component Analysis (jICA) on gray and white matter features to 

reveal widespread structural changes in brain networks involved in executive functioning, 

salience, and the default-mode network in individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).2 These 

neurostructural changes correlated significantly with executive performance, highlighting the 

link between brain damage and cognitive impairment [2].2 Furthermore, research indicates that 

binge drinking is associated with anomalies in brain functioning, particularly affecting brain 

oscillations linked to motor inhibition and execution.7 Binge drinkers demonstrated lower 

oscillatory responses in delta and theta frequency ranges during motor tasks, suggesting 

underlying neural dysfunction without significant differences in event-related potentials.7 The 

bidirectional relationship between inhibitory control and alcohol use is also noteworthy .8 

Impaired inhibitory control can predispose individuals to alcohol misuse, while alcohol 

consumption further impairs inhibitory control, creating a vicious cycle.8 Deficits in inhibitory 

control during adolescence may even predict future alcohol use disorders, highlighting the 

importance of early intervention.8 A population-based study linked alcohol and cannabis misuse 

to impaired cognitive abilities in adolescents, including deficits in recall memory, perceptual 

reasoning, inhibition, and working memory.9 The study suggested that these effects could be due 

to common underlying vulnerabilities, neuroplasticity, neurotoxicity, or developmental 

sensitivity, underscoring the complexity of the relationship between substance use and cognitive 

impairment.9 

  



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Structural Brain Impacts of Alcohol Abuse  

Neuroimaging studies reveal significant structural brain changes associated with alcohol abuse, 

particularly in adolescents.2,10-11 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have documented 

alterations in both gray and white matter volumes indicating significant structural damage during 

critical developmental periods.2,10 Specific brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex, 

hippocampus, and cerebellum, show greater vulnerability to alcohol's neurotoxic effects.1,10 

Moreover, studies using MRI have demonstrated disrupted cortical volume changes in 

individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure, suggesting that alcohol's effects on brain structure 

can begin even before birth.12 In adolescents, alcohol exposure leads to decreased plasticity and 

increased loss of cortical structure, highlighting the long-term consequences of alcohol abuse on 

brain development.12 Research using Mendelian randomization suggests a causal relationship 

between heavy alcohol use and reductions in subcortical brain volumes, specifically impacting 

the amygdala and hippocampus.11 These subcortical structures play vital roles in emotional 

regulation and memory, suggesting that alcohol-induced damage in these areas can have 

significant long-term consequences on mental health and cognitive function.11 The study by 

Durazzo et al. found that individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibited significant 

morphological abnormalities in brain regions, particularly the frontal lobe, before treatment.13 

Relapsers after treatment demonstrated greater bilateral frontal gray matter volume deficits 

compared to those who maintained abstinence, suggesting that persistent frontal gray matter 

volume deficits may serve as an endophenotype for relapse susceptibility.13 The study by De 

Santis et al., comparing men with AUD and rats with excessive alcohol consumption, found 

comparable DTI alterations, particularly in the corpus callosum and fornix/fimbria, suggesting an 

underlying process that evolves soon after cessation of alcohol use.14 These findings highlight 

the widespread and persistent effects of alcohol abuse on brain structure. 

Neurochemical Changes and Mechanisms  

Alcohol's impact on the developing brain involves complex neurochemical changes.1 Alcohol 

exposure disrupts normal brain development processes, including alterations in gene expression 

regulation and molecules involved in cell-cell interactions.1 It interferes with the mitogenic and 

growth factor response, enhances free radical formation, and deranges glial cell functions.1 In 

both adult and adolescent brains, alcohol damages specific brain areas through mechanisms 

involving excitotoxicity, free radical formation, and neuroinflammatory damage resulting from 

the activation of the innate immune system mediated by TLR4 receptors.1 Alcohol also acts on 

specific membrane proteins, such as neurotransmitter receptors (e.g., NMDA, GABA-A), ion 

channels (e.g., L-type Ca2+ channels, GIRKs), and signaling pathways (e.g., PKA and PKC 

signaling).1 These effects contribute to the wide variety of behavioral effects induced by ethanol 

drinking.1 Neuroadaptive changes affecting neurotransmission systems, particularly those 

sensitive to alcohol's acute effects, occur after long-term alcohol consumption.1 Alcohol-induced 

maladaptations in the dopaminergic mesolimbic system, abnormal plastic changes in reward-



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related brain areas, and genetic and epigenetic factors may contribute to alcohol reinforcement 

and addiction.1 Research on adolescent mice has shown that adolescents exhibit resilience to 

alcohol withdrawal-induced changes in glutamate function in the nucleus accumbens, unlike 

adults, suggesting age-related differences in neurobiobehavioral responses to alcohol.15 The 

study by Sinha highlights the role of chronic stress in addiction and substance abuse, 

emphasizing the alteration in the HPA axis and autonomic arousal linked to early life stress and 

its impact on drug use.16 These neurochemical changes underscore the complexity of alcohol's 

effects on the brain and the need for further research to understand the specific mechanisms 

involved. 

Risk And Protective Factors  

Several risk and protective factors influence the development of alcohol abuse and its 

neurodevelopmental consequences in Hispanic adolescents in the Rio Grande Valley. 

Socioeconomic factors, including poverty and limited access to resources, may increase 

vulnerability to alcohol abuse.4,17,18 Cultural factors, such as acculturation and family traditions 

surrounding alcohol consumption, also play a significant role.4 Parental attitudes toward alcohol 

use, parental education level, and family support systems can impact adolescent drinking 

behavior.18-19 Peer influence, school environment, and community-level factors all contribute to 

the complex interplay of risk factors.19-20 Conversely, protective factors, such as strong family 

bonds, positive peer relationships, school connectedness, and engagement in prosocial activities, 

can buffer against alcohol abuse.19-20 The study by Zucker et al. highlights the importance of 

early developmental processes, noting that developmental pathways to underage drinking often 

begin in early childhood and involve numerous risk and vulnerability factors.21 This underscores 

the need for comprehensive prevention strategies that address multiple risk factors across 

different developmental stages. The study by Assari found that parental educational attainment 

affects youth inhibitory control, which in turn predicts high-risk behaviors, including substance 

use.18 However, there were diminished returns for Non-Hispanic Black youth regarding the 

positive effects of parental education on behaviors compared to Non-Hispanic White youth, 

suggesting the need to address societal barriers that hinder the effectiveness of family 

resources.18 

Research Gaps and Future Directions 

Despite the existing literature, significant research gaps remain concerning the 

neurodevelopmental consequences of alcohol abuse in Hispanic adolescents in the Rio Grande 

Valley. More research is needed to: 

Characterize alcohol use patterns: Detailed epidemiological studies are needed to precisely 

define the prevalence, patterns, and types of alcohol use within this specific population. This 



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would involve collecting data on binge drinking frequency, quantity of alcohol consumed, and 

age of initiation. 

Investigate specific neurocognitive deficits: Further research should utilize neuropsychological 

assessments to identify specific cognitive deficits associated with alcohol abuse in Hispanic 

adolescents in the Rio Grande Valley, focusing on executive functions, memory, attention, and 

processing speed. 

Assess structural brain changes: More neuroimaging studies, such as MRI and DTI, are 

necessary to determine the specific structural brain changes associated with alcohol abuse in this 

population, comparing them to age-matched controls and considering potential confounding 

factors such as socioeconomic status, acculturation, and co-occurring mental health disorders. 

Explore neurochemical mechanisms: Research should examine the neurochemical mechanisms 

underlying alcohol's effects on the developing brain in Hispanic adolescents. This would involve 

investigating alterations in neurotransmitter systems, gene expression, and cellular processes. 

Evaluate the impact of cultural and socioeconomic factors: Studies should examine how cultural 

factors (e.g., acculturation, family traditions) and socioeconomic factors (e.g., poverty, access to 

resources) interact with alcohol abuse to influence neurodevelopmental outcomes. 

Develop culturally appropriate interventions: Research should focus on developing and testing 

culturally appropriate prevention and intervention programs for Hispanic adolescents in the Rio 

Grande Valley. These programs should consider the unique cultural contexts and address 

multiple risk and protective factors. 

Conduct longitudinal studies: Longitudinal studies are crucial to understanding the long-term 

neurodevelopmental consequences of alcohol abuse, tracking cognitive and structural brain 

changes over time, and examining the impact on academic achievement, mental health, and 

social adjustment. 

Conclusion 

Alcohol abuse during adolescence poses significant neurodevelopmental risks, impacting both 

cognitive function and brain structure. While existing research provides valuable insights into the 

effects of alcohol on the developing brain, more targeted studies are needed to understand the 

specific consequences for Hispanic adolescents in the Rio Grande Valley. Addressing the 

identified research gaps will enable the development of effective prevention and intervention 

strategies tailored to this population, ultimately promoting their long-term health and well-being. 

The unique social, cultural, and economic factors within this community must be considered to 

create culturally sensitive and effective interventions. The integration of epidemiological data, 

neuropsychological assessments, neuroimaging techniques, and a strong focus on community 



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engagement are essential for advancing our understanding of this critical public health issue. 

Further research will be vital in understanding the complex interplay between alcohol abuse, 

cultural factors, and neurodevelopment within this vulnerable population. Only through a 

comprehensive approach incorporating multiple disciplines can effective strategies be developed 

to mitigate the long-term consequences of alcohol abuse on the lives of Hispanic adolescents in 

the Rio Grande Valley. 

Acknowledgments 

 Nori Zapata, MSN, RN, Senior Vice President of Education and Career Development, Vanessa 

Vera, MS, Senior Manager of High School and Community Outreach, Anisa Mirza, Intern 

Program Coordinator.  

Funding 

Funded by DHR Health High School and Community Outreach; DHR Health; South Texas 

Independent School District.  

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