Researchers Caffeine-containing mixed drinks with alcohol affect our brain like cocaine

The effect of consuming such drinks can last until adulthood
It has long been known that so-called energy drinks are bad for human health. Researchers have now found that the combination of alcohol and energy drinks results in an unhealthy and addictive drink. In adolescents, this mixture is even similar to cocaine.

Researchers from Purdue University found in a study that a mixed drink made from an energy drink and alcohol gives a dangerous mixture. Especially with adolescents, such drinks are particularly popular. The consumption of this harmful cocktail leads to changes in the juvenile brain, similar to the illegal drug cocaine, the researchers report. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "PLOS ONE".

In recent years, more and more people are mixing alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks. This trend does not pass on young people. Specialists realized that the consumption of such mixed drinks can have dangerous consequences especially for adolescents. (Image: Francesco Italia / fotolia.com)

Changes in the brain influence behavior until adulthood
The mixture of alcohol and energy drink is not only popular with teenagers. There are also many adults in Germany who like to drink a few glasses of Red Bull / Vodka at the weekend. The combination of these drinks can cause changes in the brain in adolescents, similar to the drug cocaine. The consequences of consumption remain even into adulthood, explains the author. Richard Van Rijn.

Energiey drinks are very sugary and the caffeine content is way too high
Ernergy drinks contain a lot of sugar and more caffeine. A single drink contains between six and 240 milligrams of caffeine. That's about ten times the value of caffeine normally found in caffeinated sodas. Even the World Health Organization warned about energy drinks. Such drinks are also often mixed with alcohol. So far, however, little was known about the health effects of the drink on adolescent consumers. The new study should change that now.

Consumption leads to neurochemical changes
In their research, the physicians investigated the consequences of consuming caffeinated drinks with alcohol. The test was performed on mice. The experts found that juvenile mice were increasingly active through the drink. The effect was similar when cocaine was given to the mice, the scientists explain. In addition, neurochemical changes could be observed.

Mixed drink alters the levels of FosB proteins
In fact, it seems that both drinks together cause changes in human behavior and even alter the neurochemistry in the brains, explains the author. Van Rijn. One marker of changes in neurochemistry are the levels of so-called FosB proteins. These were similar to the drug abuse of cocaine and morphine by consuming the mixed drink, the researchers add.

Consumption in youth favors later abuse of other substances
We were able to observe a marked effect of the combined drinks, explain the researchers. This effect does not occur if we only take one of the drinks, say the authors. The changes in the brain were long-term. These seem to lead people to drink more alcohol and, as adults, more commonly abuse other substances for enjoyment.

The consumption of affected mixed drinks later leads to increased cocaine resistance
The observed effect in the brain usually makes it harder for drug users to stop the abuse, explains Drs. van Rijn. Worrying, moreover, was that the adult mice were somewhat dulled by the effects of cocaine. When mice eat very caffeinated and alcoholic drinks at an adolescent age, they later need more cocaine to have an effect. van Rijn. (As)