8,9,10 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies are used to view and measure both the damage and improvement to If started in time, abstinence from alcohol can reverse much of the physical damage caused by heavy drinking. 1,2,6,7 What Happens in Recovery?įor most people, the brain can heal. Malnutrition and heavy alcohol use can cause serious impairments in memory and language over time and can potentially result in a permanentĬognitive disorder called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which causes amnesia and can lead to coma if left untreated. Cognitiveĭeficits are made worse by malnutrition, especially a deficiency of vitamin B (a common deficiency in alcohol dependent individuals). Worse, eventually developing into a lasting syndrome known as alcohol-related dementia-which represents about 10% of all dementia cases 1 (additionally, alcohol is estimated to contribute to roughly 29% of all other dementia cases 8). 10,11,13,14 Without treatment, cognitive impairment grows 5,11,12 Adolescents are especially at risk for long-lasting or permanent damage and performance deficits, since their most-impacted areas of the brain are still in development. 8,9,10 Parts of the brain relating to memory and "higher functions" (e.g., problem solving and impulse control) are more susceptible to damage than other parts of the brain, so problems in these areas tend toīe worse than others. What are the observable effects of this damage? Since alcohol affects a large portion of the brain, many different kinds of cognitive impairment can occur as a result of heavy drinking, including problems with verbal fluency and verbal learning, processing speed, working memory,Īttention, problem solving, spatial processing, and impulsivity. 1,2,5 There are some subtle differences in how brain damage occurs in men and women, but regardless of gender, loss of brain matter increases with age and amount of alcohol consumed. (cell bodies) and white matter (cell pathways) over time. People with alcohol dependence often experience "brain shrinkage," which is reduced volume of both gray matter In addition to pathway damage, brain matter itself is also damaged by heavy alcohol use. Too much exposure to a neurotransmitter can cause neurons to eventually "burn out." 1 Since neurons make up the pathways between different parts of the brain, when they beginīurning out, it can cause noticeable slowing in the reactions of these pathways. Is neurotoxicity, which occurs when neurons over react to neurotransmitters for too long. 1,4 Alcohol's damage to the brain can take several forms. 1,2,3 This damage is made worse by drinking binges and sudden withdrawal. Neurotransmitters, causing painful and potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms that can damage brain cells. After alcohol leaves the system, the brain continues over activating the 1,2 If heavy drinking continues over a long period of time, the brain adapts to the blocked signals by responding more dramatically to certain brain chemicals (called neurotransmitters). It blocks chemical signals between brain cells (called neurons), leading to the common immediate symptoms of intoxication, including impulsive behavior, slurred speech, poor memory, and slowed Recovery? Can damage caused by heavy drinking ever be reversed? How Does Alcohol Affect the Brain?Īlcohol has a profound effect on the complex structures of the brain. It is less commonly known why these side effects occur and how heavy drinking can eventually cause serious long-term damage to the brain. Afterward, they may experienceĪ blackout: an inability to remember entire conversations or events that occurred while they were drinking. While drinking, they may have difficulty recalling memories or remembering new information, such as a person's name. Most people with alcohol dependence have experienced the memory problems and slowed thinking that come with alcohol use. Alcohol's Effects on the Brain and Cognitive Improvement in Recoveryĭownload the Cognitive Improvement and Alcohol Recovery Research Update.
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