The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Brain Function

The effects of alcohol abuse on brain function can be severe. There are numerous studies concluding that activities such as binge drinking can cause a slew of health issues down the road. For many people, the effects of chronic alcohol abuse are not always immediately clear.

 Although most people are aware that substance abuse can harm the body, most of us aren't clear on what exactly can happen.

Three Potential Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Brain Function

Blackouts

Research indicates that blackouts are one of the most prevalent effects of alcohol abuse. In fact, blackouts are even common among drinkers who do not have a long-term dependence on alcohol. However, it can be unsettling for those who experience blackouts personally, and for their friends and family.

Blacking out refers to the phenomenon of alcohol-induced forgetfulness. People may wake up and realize that they have no memory of events that occurred while they were drinking. This leaves people open to practice a number of potentially hazardous behaviors, including vandalism and unprotected sex. Blackouts can also damage the way the brain functions- each time you blackout you lose brain cells and destroy precious brain tissue.

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

This is perhaps one of the least commonly understood effects of alcohol abuse, and it is linked to the nutritional patterns of alcoholics. Studies show that up to 80% of alcoholics lack adequate levels of thiamine, or vitamin B1, in their body. This nutrient helps safeguard the brain from Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

Wernicke-Korsakoff is actually two separate conditions that often follow each other; so much so that they are eventually linked. The first half, Wernicke encephalopathy, creates mental confusion and paralysis of the nerves that control ocular movement. Those battling alcohol dependency may also face Korsakoff's psychosis. This is a chronic condition that is identified by persistent learning and memory issues.

Lack of New Brain Cells

For years, the scientific community was under the impression that the brain has a set number of nerve cells. Once you lost them, the best thing you could possibly do was to work on strengthening those that remained. However, as time and scientific understanding progressed, we began to understand that it's actually the opposite, that you can actually develop new brain cells. Unfortunately the effects of alcohol abuse can interfere with the development of new brain cells.

The brain regularly develops new brain cells through a method called neurogenesis. The destruction of this process can be the victim of one of the most devastating effects of alcohol abuse. Alcoholism effectively slows the production of new brain cells while simultaneously weakening those that currently exist. Not only does the condition do damage to the brain; it can actually work at making that damage permanent.

Ben Brafman, LMHC, CAP is the President and CEO of Destination Hope, a licensed dual diagnosis substance abuse treatment center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ben has more than 20 years of experience in the addiction and mental health fields, which led him to develop a combination of innovative treatment protocols at Destination Hope. He has been published on various topics including dual diagnosis and chemical dependency, and gives back to the community by educating other addiction counselors at his Academy for Addiction Professionals.

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