Alcoholism and its negative affects on the brain
There are several affects of alcoholism on the brain. Some are short term and others can end up being permanent. While alcohol definitely has effects on the brain there will be many differences with each individual person. What are some of the effect on the brain?
Some effects that occur as a result of only a couple drinks are:
* slurred speech
* impaired memory
* difficulty with balance
* blurring vision
* delayed or slowed reaction time
These effects can also disappear quickly after the drinking has subsided.
But for a person who drinks heavily for a prolonged period of time there might be some more long term effects that remain even after the drinking has subsided such as:
* a serious brain disorder known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
* hepatic encephalopathy caused by liver dysfunction due to drinking excessively
* reduction of cognitive functioning
Heavy drinking has wide reaching effects involving the brain. A heavy drinker could end up with permanent problems which would require constant care from another person. They might not end up with a debilitating condition but this will vary with each person and involve many factors.
The factors that influence the affects of alcohol on the brain are:
* the persons age
* what age a person started to drink
* how long a person has been drinking
* family history
* genetic background
* education
* prenatal alcohol exposure
* a persons general health
Factors also that influence the extent of the effects are of course, how much a person drinks and how often they drink alcohol. While poor health in general or a severe liver condition might contribute to the brain damage there might be those who simply develop the damage as a direct result of the alcohol.
There is also an indication that acetaldehyde which is a common neurotoxin can be more concentrated in the body as a result of the break down process of alcohol in the body. The enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenase converts alcohol into acetaldehyde. Then acetaldehyde is converted to acetate but this process can sometimes take a long time. But alcoholics have a tendency to quickly break alcohol down into acetaldehyde; however they slowly change acetaldehyde to acetate. Consequently, long periods of exposure to the acetaldehyde before it is converted to acetate can have some damaging effects on the brain.
One thing is certain; each alcoholic will experience various degrees of impairment due to the fact that each person is vastly different. Some people who drink heavily will be more likely to develop brain damage than others. Although alcoholism and its effects on the brain is a greatly researched subject there have been no definitive conclusions drawn about any one variable as a determining factor in alcoholism and brain damage. However, constant queries amongst the medical world that are attempting to discover any connections will remain as an ongoing topic of interest.
There are some good indications, however, that a majority of alcoholics, who suffer from a cognitive condition because of heavy drinking, will achieve some improvement in their brain function as they remain abstinent.
The exact affects of alcohol on the brain are under much scrutiny in the medical field and research will continue on how likely it will be to reverse the damages from alcoholism. But with new medications on the forefront and much research going into the field of therapy made to help promote the re-growth of new brain cells there is a glimpse of brightness in the area of alcoholism and its damaging effects on the brain.
Recommended Reading
- How Alcohol Affects The Brain
