Efeitos neurobiológicos do álcool e implicações nos processos cognitivos: uma revisão de literatura
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1806-6976.smad.2026.237956Palavras-chave:
Abstinência do álcool, Adolescente, Aprendizagem, Memória, Bebidas alcoólicasResumo
Objetivo: investigar, a partir da literatura, se o consumo do álcool, sobretudo por jovens, induz alterações neurobiológicas em áreas encefálicas cognitivas; se o modo de exposição influencia os possíveis danos; e se a abstinência reverte ou minimiza estes efeitos. Metodologia: a seleção dos artigos utilizados ocorreu por meio de buscas em plataformas de pesquisas com o auxílio de descritores
preestabelecidos. Resultados: a análise dos estudos permitiu verificar evidências de que o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, sobretudo o excessivo, causa danos em áreas encefálicas relacionadas com aprendizagem e memória. Foram observadas evidências de que esse consumo afeta indivíduos de todas as faixas etárias, entretanto os adolescentes se mostraram mais vulneráveis. Foi verificado
que a abstinência pode ser fundamental para melhoria dos malefícios atribuídos ao uso do álcool, principalmente os neurocognitivos. Conclusão: considerando todos os prejuízos causados por essa droga, é importante a adoção de iniciativas públicas que visem coibir o seu consumo.
Downloads
Referências
1. Shield K, Franklin A, Wettlaufer A, Sohi I, Bhulabhai M, Farkouh EK, et al. National, regional, and global statistics on alcohol consumption and associated burden of disease 2000-20: a modelling study and comparative risk assessment. Lancet Public Health. 2025;10(9):e751-e761. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00174-4
2. MacKillop J, Agabio R, Ewing SWF, Heilig M, Kelly JF, Leggio L, et al. Hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorders. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2022;8(1):80. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00406-1
3. Hendriks HFJ. Alcohol and human health: what is the evidence? Annu Rev Food Sci Technol. 2020;11:1-21. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-food-032519-051827
4. Lees B, Meredith LR, Kirkland AE, Bryant BE, Squeglia LM. Effect of alcohol use on the adolescent brain and behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2020;192:172906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172906
5. Monte SM, Kril JJ. Human alcohol-related neuropathology. Acta Neuropathol. 2014;127(1):71-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-013-1233-3
6. Pan American Health Organization. Alcohol [Internet]. Washington (DC): PAHO; 2020 [cited 2023 Apr 8]. Available from: https://www.paho.org/pt/topicos/alcool
7. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE)-2019 [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2021 [cited 2023 Apr 10]. Available from: https://biblioteca.ibge.gov.br/index.php/biblioteca-catalogo?view=detalhes&id=2101852
8. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE): seis em cada dez estudantes haviam experimentado bebida alcoólica na pré-pandemia [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2021 [cited 2023 Mar 7]. Available from: https://agenciadenoticias.ibge.gov.br/agencia-noticias/2012-agencia-de-noticias/noticias/31580-seis-em-cada-dez-estudantes-haviam-experimentado-bebida-alcoolica-na-pre-pandemia
9. Farnia V, Jouybari TA, Salemi S, Moradinazar M, Shadmani FK, Rahami B, et al. The prevalence of alcohol consumption and its related factors in adolescents: findings from Global School-based Student Health Survey. PLoS One. 2024;19(4):e0297225. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297225
10. Steinfeld MR, Torregrossa MM. Consequences of adolescent drug use. Transl Psychiatry. 2023;13(1):313. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02590-4
11. Rebouças ECC, Pereira TN, Lisbôa DKM, Filho RLSA. Binge drinking by university students: student profile and risk and protection factors. Rev Fam Ciclos Vida Saude Contexto Soc. 2021;9(4):880-93. https://doi.org/10.18554/refacs.v9i4.5002
12. White A, Hingson R. The burden of alcohol use: excessive alcohol consumption and related consequences among college students. Alcohol Res. 2013;35(2):201-18. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24881329/
13. Lannoy S, Billieux J, Dormal V, Maurage P. Behavioral and cerebral impairments associated with binge drinking in youth: a critical review. Psychol Belg. 2019;59(1):116-55. https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.476
14. Imai FI, Coelho IZ, Bastos JL. Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and associated factors in a representative sample of undergraduate students from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, 2012: a cross-sectional study. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2014;23(3):435-46. https://doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742014000300006
15. Hammoud N, Jimenez-Shahed J. Chronic neurologic effects of alcohol. Clin Liver Dis. 2019;23(1):141-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cld.2018.09.010
16. Bachetti LS, Fukusima SS, Quaglia MAC. The effect of alcohol in visuospatial perception and spatial cognition. Psicol Saude Doencas. 2017;18(2):451-61. https://doi.org/10.15309/17psd180213
17. Associação Paulista para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina. O que acontece no seu corpo quando você ingere bebida alcoólica? [Internet]. São Paulo: SPDM; 2016 [cited 2022 Nov 19]. Available from: https://spdm.org.br/noticias/saude-e-bem-estar/o-que-acontece-no-seu-corpo-quando-voce-ingere-bebida-alcoolica/
18. Haam J, Yakel JL. Cholinergic modulation of the hippocampal region and memory function. J Neurochem. 2017;142(Suppl 2):111-21. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.14052
19. Sircar R, Basak AK, Sircar D. Repeated ethanol exposure affects the acquisition of spatial memory in adolescent female rats. Behav Brain Res. 2009;202(2):225-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2009.03.036
20. Garcia-Moreno LM, Cimadevilla JM. Acute and chronic ethanol intake: effects on spatial and non-spatial memory in rats. Alcohol. 2012;46(8):757-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2012.08.001
21. Costardi JVV, Nampo RAT, Silva GL, Ribeiro MAF, Stella HJ, Stella MB, et al. A review on alcohol: from the central action mechanism to chemical dependency. Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2015;61(4):381-7. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.61.04.381
22. Tonietto L, Wagner GP, Trentini CM, Sperb CM, Parente MAMP. Interfaces among executive functions, language and intentionality. Paideia (Ribeirao Preto). 2011;21(49):247-55. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-863X2011000200012
23. Chafee MV, Heilbronner SR. Prefrontal cortex. Curr Biol. 2022;32(8):R346-R351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.02.071
24. Babor TF, Higgins-Biddle JC, Saunders J, Monteiro MG. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): guidelines for use in primary health care [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2001 [cited 2023 Mar 10]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-MSD-MSB-01.6a
25. Luis MAV, Garcia MVL, Barbosa SP, Lima DWC. Use of alcohol among elderly people attending Primary Health Care. Acta Paul Enferm. 2018;31(1):46-53. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0194201800008
26. Destro JSF, Marin MJS, Otani MAP, Selleti JDN, Higa EFR. Experiences of alcohol-dependent elderly: grounded theory. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2022;56:e20220064. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2022-0064en
27. Rother ET. Systematic literature review x narrative review. Acta Paul Enferm. 2007;20(2):vii-viii. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-21002007000200001
28. Kipp BT, Nunes PT, Galaj E, Hitchcock B, Nasra T, Poynor KR, et al. Adolescent ethanol exposure alters cholinergic function and apical dendritic branching within the orbital frontal cortex. Neuroscience. 2021;473:52-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.08.014
29. Reitz NL, Nunes PT, Savage LM. Adolescent binge-type ethanol exposure in rats mirrors age-related cognitive decline by suppressing cholinergic tone and hippocampal neurogenesis. Front Behav Neurosci. 2021;15:772857. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2021.772857
30. Rice J, Jeffrey LC, Weiner L, Gu C. Region-specific interneuron demyelination and heightened anxiety-like behavior induced by adolescent binge alcohol treatment. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2019;7(1):173. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-019-0829-9
31. Salling MC, Skelly MJ, Avegno E, Regan S, Zeric T, Nichols E, et al. Alcohol consumption during adolescence in a mouse model of binge drinking alters the intrinsic excitability and function of the prefrontal cortex through a reduction in the hyperpolarization-activated cation current. J Neurosci. 2018;38(27):6207-22. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0550-18.2018
32. Tapia-Rojas C, Carvajal FJ, Mira RG, Arce C, Lerma-Cabrera JM, Orellana JA, et al. Adolescent binge alcohol exposure affects the brain function through mitochondrial impairment. Mol Neurobiol. 2018;55(5):4473-91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-017-0613-4
33. McClintick JN, McBride WJ, Bell RL, Ding ZM, Liu Y, Xuei X, et al. Gene expression changes in the ventral hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex of adolescent alcohol-preferring (P) rats following binge-like alcohol drinking. Alcohol. 2018;68:37-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2017.09.002
34. Ji Z, Yuan L, Lu X, Dind H, Luo J, Ke ZJ. Binge alcohol exposure causes neurobehavioral deficits and GSK3β activation in the hippocampus of adolescent rats. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):3088. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21341-w
35. Fernandez GM, Savage LM. Adolescent binge ethanol exposure alters specific forebrain cholinergic cell populations and leads to selective functional deficits in the prefrontal cortex. Neuroscience. 2017;361:129-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.08.013
36. Gong YS, Hu K, Yang LQ, Guo J, Gao YQ, Song FL, et al. Comparative effects of EtOH consumption and thiamine deficiency on cognitive impairment, oxidative damage, and β-amyloid peptide overproduction in the brain. Free Radic Biol Med. 2017;108:163-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.03.019
37. Contreras A, Polín E, Miguens M, Pérez-Garcia C, Pérez V, Ruiz-Gayo M, et al. Intermittent-excessive and chronic-moderate ethanol intake during adolescence impair spatial learning, memory and cognitive flexibility in adulthood. Neuroscience. 2019;418:205-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.08.051
38. Wu Y, Xing Y, Zou D. Study of the relationship between how ethanol affects learning and memory and the expression of p21WAF1/CIP1 in the female mouse hippocampus. Neurosci Lett. 2019;708:134354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134354
39. Liu Z, Ren F, Yang B, Zhang H, Guo F, Zhang X, et al. Region-dependent regulation of acute ethanol on γ oscillation in rat hippocampal slices. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020;237(10):2959-66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-020-05584-y
40. Subbanna S, Joshi V, Basavarajappa BS. Activity-dependent signaling and epigenetic abnormalities in mice exposed to postnatal ethanol. Neuroscience. 2018;392:230-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.07.011
41. Morton RA, Valenzuela CF. Third trimester equivalent alcohol exposure reduces modulation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission by 5-HT1A receptors in the rat hippocampal CA3 region. Front Neurosci. 2016;10:266. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2016.00266
42. Adebiyi O, Adigun K, Folarin O, Olopade J, Olayemi F. Administration of ethanolic extract of Erythrophleum ivorense (A Chev.) stem bark to male Wistar rats alters brain areas involved in motor coordination, behavior, and memory. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020;253:112650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112650
43. Lorkiewicz SA, Baker FC, Müller-Oehring EM, Haas A, Wickham R, Sassoon AS, et al. A longitudinal examination of alcohol-related blackouts as a predictor of changes in learning, memory, and executive function in adolescents. Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:866051. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.866051
44. Gohari MR, Zuckermann AME, Leatherdale ST. A longitudinal examination of alcohol cessation and academic outcomes among a sample of Canadian secondary school students. Addict Behav. 2021;118:106882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106882
45. Merlo A, Hendriksen PA, Garssen J, Bijlsma EY, Engels F, Bruce G, et al. Transition to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact of changes in alcohol consumption and experiencing hangovers on academic functioning. J Clin Med. 2021;10(22):5332. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10225332
46. Abrams AL. Consequences of alcohol use: truancy as a mediator between drinking and achievement. J Child Adolesc Subst Abuse. 2019;28(4):276-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/1067828X.2020.1750518
47. Barreto MRA, Acosta FJ, Arias MC. Executive functions and parental history of alcoholism in adolescents. Pensam Psicol. 2018;16(1):57-68. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javerianacali.PPSI16-1.feaf
48. Nguyen-Louie TT, Simmons AN, Squeglia LM, Infante MA, Schacht JP, Tapert SF. Earlier alcohol use onset prospectively predicts changes in functional connectivity. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018;235(4):1041-54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4821-4
49. Patte KA, Qian W, Leatherdale ST. Binge drinking and academic performance, engagement, aspirations, and expectations: a longitudinal analysis among secondary school students in the COMPASS study. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2017;37(11):376-85. https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.37.11.02
50. Gil-Hernandez S, Mateos P, Porras C, Garcias-Gomez R, Navarro E, Garcia-Moreno LM. Alcohol binge drinking and executive functioning during adolescent brain development. Front Psychol. 2017;8:1638. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01638
51. Tembo C, Burns S, Kalembo F. The association between levels of alcohol consumption and mental health problems and academic performance among young university students. PLoS One. 2017;12(6):e0178142. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178142
52. Carbia C, Cadaveira F, López-Caneda E, Caamaño-Isorna F, Hologuín SR, Corral M. Working memory over a six-year period in young binge drinkers. Alcohol. 2017;61:17-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2017.01.013
53. Bolden J. Associations among attention problems, learning strategies, and hazardous drinking behavior in a college student sample: a pilot study. Subst Abuse. 2019;13:1178221819848356. https://doi.org/10.1177/1178221819848356
54. Zahr NM, Pohl KM, Saranathan M, Sullivan EV, Pfefferbaum A. Hippocampal subfield CA2+3 exhibits accelerated aging in alcohol use disorder: a preliminary study. Neuroimage Clin. 2019;22:101764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101764
55. Acuff SF, Soltis KE, Dennhardt AA, Borsari B, Martens MP, Murphy JG. Future so bright? Delay discounting and consideration of future consequences predict academic performance among college students. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017;25(5):412-21. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000143
56. Nemer ASA, Fausto MA, Silva-Fonseca VA, Ciomei MH, Quintaes KD. Pattern of alcoholic beverage consumption and academic performance among college students. Rev Psiquiatr Clin. 2013;40(2):65-70. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832013000200003
57. Vieira RMT, Serafim AP, Saffi F. Neurocognitive impairments in alcohol dependence: a case report. Rev Psiquiatr Clin. 2007;34(5):246-50. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000500007
58. Ros-Cucurull E, Palma-Álvarez RF, Cardona-Rubira C, García-Raboso E, Jacas C, Grau-López L, et al. Alcohol use disorder and cognitive impairment in old age patients: a 6 months follow-up study in an outpatient unit in Barcelona. Psychiatry Res. 2018;261:361-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.12.069
59. Oliveira MS, Laranjeira R, Jaeger A. The cognitive impairment in alcohol dependence. Psicol Saude Doencas [Internet]. 2002 [cited 2024 Feb 14];3(2):205-12. Available from: https://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1645-00862002000200008&lng=pt&nrm=isso&tlng=pt
60. Wesley MJ, Lile JA, Fillmore MT, Porrino LJ. Neurophysiological capacity in a working memory task differentiates dependent from nondependent heavy drinkers and controls. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017;175:24-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.029
61. Santos WS, Gouveia VV, Fernandes DP, Souza SSB, Grangeiro ASM. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT): exploring its psychometric parameters. J Bras Psiquiatr. 2012;61(3):117-23. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0047-20852012000300001
62. Oliveira CR, Bastos AS, Viana SAR, Rocha BF, Cerutti F, Kurle AM, et al. Assessing cognition in elderly who use alcohol. Aletheia. 2016;(49):101-9. Available from: http://www.periodicos.ulbra.br/index.php/aletheia/article/view/3601
63. Lotfullina N, Khazipov R. Ethanol and the developing brain: inhibition of neuronal activity and neuroapoptosis. Neuroscientist. 2018;24(2):130-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073858417712667
64. Castaño-Perez GA, Calderon-Vallejo GA. Problems associated with alcohol consumption by university students. Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem. 2014;22(5):739-46. https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-1169.3579.2475
65. Allen HK, Calhoun BH, Maggs JL. High-risk alcohol use behavior and daily academic effort among college students. J Am Coll Health. 2022;70(2):335-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1752697
66. Sun D, Adduru VR, Phillips RD, Bouchard HC, Sotiras A, Michael AM, et al. Adolescent alcohol use is linked to disruptions in age-appropriate cortical thinning: an unsupervised machine learning approach. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2023;48(2):321-26. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01457-4
67. Zizzi A, Berri IM, Berri A, Occhipinti M, Escelsior A, Guglielmo R, et al. Psychological dimensions in alcohol use disorder: comparing active drinkers and abstinent patients. Front Psychiatry. 2024;15:1420508. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1420508
68. Fein G, McGillivray S. Cognitive performance in long-term abstinent elderly alcoholics. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007;31(11):1788-99. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00481.x
Downloads
Publicado
Edição
Seção
Licença
Direitos autorais (c) 2026 SMAD, Revista Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool e Drogas (Edição em Português)
Este trabalho está licenciado sob uma licença Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
