Heavy drinking rewires brains for the worse

As if alcoholics didn't already have enough problems. New research suggests heavy drinking rewires brains, increasing susceptibility to anxiety problems. Scientists tested two groups of mice: one was given no booze and the other group had the mouse equivalent of double the legal driving limit. The mice were trained to fear a tone accompanied by an electric shock. Even when the shocks stopped, the drunkard mice continued to freeze in terror when they heard the tone. Nerve cells in their brains were found to be differently shaped to their teetotal counterparts. If the findings apply to humans, it "could lead to new thinking about how we can better treat" alcohol abuse and PTSD, according to the study's lead author Andrew Holmes. (Source)

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