Published: March 22, 2016

Audio Script

Teen caffeine use may heighten anxiety-disorder risk
March 23, 2016ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Ryan Bachtell
Anyone who drinks coffee has most likely felt the jitters from too much caffeine but now a new CU-ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ study suggests consumption of highly-caffeinated drinks by adolescents puts them at risk for more than just the jitters.
The study, using rats, indicates that teenagers or children who consume caffeine could have tendencies toward anxiety-disorders later in life because the caffeine is interfering with the development of the adolescent brain, says Ryan Bachtell, a professor of psychology and neuroscience.
CUT 1 β€œThe adolescent period is really characterized by subtle changes in the brain where certain pathways are starting to connect with certain brain regions and form connectivity between those regions. (:12) And, so, adding in a drug – whether it be something that we consider to be innocuous like caffeine or whether it is a more potent drug – it can significantly impact the development of those brain pathways.” (:23)
Anxiety disorders are typically characterized by chronic anxiety, or exaggerated worry and tension, even when not warranted by circumstances, and they are linked with major psychiatric disorders, says Bachtell.
CUT 2 β€œOne of the tests that we look at is social interaction. So they might display some sort of a social aversion or avoid a social situation because of an increased anxiety towards interacting with other folks.” (:14)
For the study researchers put caffeine in the drinking water of adolescent rats. What they found is the young rats developed behaviors indicating anxiety disorders even after the caffeine was removed, and did so in alarming rates, compared to adolescent rats not subjected to caffeine or adult rats treated similarly.
CUT 3 β€œWe had animals consume caffeine during their adolescent period over 28 days. We then took them off the caffeine and tested them behaviorally for anxiety behaviors. (:12) The animals displayed an increased aversion to other animals. They showed an aversion of going into anxiety-provoking areas - for example an open field where they could be susceptible to predators. And so they displayed anxiety across the board after they consumed caffeine.” (:30)
What really concerns Bachtell is the popularity of caffeine-charged energy drinks and coffee among today’s teenagers.
CUT 4β€œAdolescents have consumed caffeine for many, many years, but what we are seeing now is adolescents consuming beverages that contain much higher concentrations of caffeine. (:10) Large coffee drinks and energy drinks contain higher concentrations than the traditional soda and the consumption of soda has decreased but the consumption of these high caffeine-containing beverages has increased. These higher caffeine-containing beverages could be harmful.” (:26)
With the rising caffeine use by teens and pre-teens, such results could raise eyebrows. Recently, studies have linked energy drinks to high blood pressure and arrhythmia, and a student and faculty committee at Vermont’s Middlebury College eliminated campus sales, saying energy drinks promoted poor academic environments and elevated student stress.
-CU-