SP 10: An Ecological Investigation of Acute Next-Day Effects of Alcohol Use on Daily Cognitive Functioning

A single heavy drinking event is associated with short-term structural changes in the brain among a sample of young adults and preliminary diary evidence suggests alcohol use may impact concentration and working memory capacity. SP9 is collecting intensive data across a 21-day period from a sample of 250 young adults to explore the acute, next-day (post-intoxication) effects of alcohol use on cognitive functioning and day-level and person-level moderators to inform moments and subgroups at greatest risk and in need of early targeted prevention and intervention efforts.

This study investigates the next-day cognitive impacts of alcohol use among young adults, focusing on how different drinking intensities (light, binge, high-intensity, blackout) affect memory and executive functioning. With young adults at high risk for alcohol use, researchers will collect 21-day data from 250 participants to analyze cognitive changes following drinking episodes and explore whether effects are short-lived or last throughout the day. The study also examines factors like mood, sleep, and previous substance use that might influence alcohol’s cognitive effects on a daily level, as well as individual traits (e.g., sex, baseline alcohol severity) that may impact vulnerability. Findings will identify those most at risk and inform early intervention strategies, while setting the groundwork for studying potential long-term cognitive impacts.

SP10 is interested in using the MOODS app to assess the feasibility of collecting timely reports of both positive and negative stress events as young adults go about their daily lives.

It can provide a new capability to get a deeper understanding of the effects of heavy drinking and an opportunity to deliver timely interventions to counter the harmful effects of heavy drinking.