Alcohol abuse, a stage of problematic drinking that directly precedes alcohol dependence, is characterized by a dangerous pattern of self-destructive drinking, according to Helpguide. While you may not yet have a physical addiction to alcohol, as an alcohol abuser, you may already have a habit of neglecting responsibilities, getting into physically dangerous situations and damaging your personal and professional relationships.
What is Cognition?
Cognition describes complex brain processes that control attention, memory, the speed of processing visual and auditory information, and logic and reasoning. Taking only one or two drinks, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, can automatically affect your speech, reaction time, memory walking and vision. Drinking heavily over a long period of time can cause persistent cognitive problems well after a person achieves sobriety.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety, social phobias and depression, all cognitive disorders, are so intertwined to alcohol abuse and dependence it is often difficult to determine which came first, according to Matt G. Kushner, lead study author of a report published in the "Clinical Psychology Review" in 2000. The article--The Relationship Between Anxiety Disorders and Alcohol Use Disorders--indicates that acute intoxication can reduce anxiety by diverting attention away from the cause of the anxiety. But continuing to drink undermines the cognitive processes that may allow a non-drinker to cope with anxiety, which only perpetuates abuse.
Memory
Amnestic disorders affect memory; they involve memory loss, the ability to create new memories and the inability to maintain new information. While many amnestic disorders are caused by head trauma, stroke, tumors or other illnesses, alcohol abuse is a leading cause, according to the American Medical Network.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Wernicke-Korsakoff is a syndrome caused by a thiamine, or vitamin B1, deficiency that affects memory and is common in people with alcoholism, according to the National Institutes of Health. While technically two separate conditions, they tend to operate in tandem. Wernicke's, which occurs first, causes damage in the thalamus and hypothalamus parts of the brain. All the messages processed by the brain pass through the thalamus. The hypothalamus controls emotions and releases important hormones that send signals to the pituitary gland. Korsakoff is a form of psychosis that results from damage to the area of the brain responsible for memory. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is popularly known as "wet brain."
Female Drinkers
In 2001, a study published in the journal "Alcohol and Alcoholism" by lead researcher Jarmila Hallman found that alcohol dependent females scored significantly higher on impulsiveness, anxiety-related traits, were more likely to be involved in criminal activity and diagnosed more often for any personality disorder. These characteristics are typically seen in males classified as type 2 alcohol abusers, a type of alcoholism more difficult to treat. In 2010, ScienceDaily published a report indicating that heavy alcohol use was linked to more cognitive problems compared with mild to moderate use in the elderly, especially females.
