Side Effects
Alcohol definitely affects the brain, report researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Side effects can be apparent after only a few drinks. Immediate side effects of drinking alcohol can include blurred vision, unsteady gait, slurred speech and impaired reaction times. Memory loss often accompanies the use of alcohol, which may be resolved when the drinking ceases. While some side effects of drinking are considered temporary, with few long-lasting consequences, moderate and heavy drinking can cause permanent brain damage that may be irreversible. Factors that influence the extent of the damage caused by drinking include the age of the drinker, how much and how often drinking occurs, genetics and the drinker's general health.
Brain Shrinkage
Brain shrinkage occurs from drinking alcohol, which causes much of the damage, including blackouts, where periods of time are missing from the person's memory banks. In studies done by the NIAAA, both male and female alcoholics were found to have significantly smaller brain sizes than non-drinkers. Both men and women showed signs of memory loss and learning disabilities. Women, however, were affected in as little as half the time spent drinking as men, indicating that women's brains are more susceptible to damage from alcoholic drinking than men.
Changes
Changes in the brain occur from ingesting alcohol. Over a period of time, the body's stores of thiamin, or vitamin B1, become depleted. While thiamin deficiency also can be attributed to poor diet, researchers at NIAAA report that more than 80 percent of alcoholics have lowered thiamin levels. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a disease that develops as result of the changes in the brain caused by lack of vitamin B1. Symptoms of the condition include mental confusion, paralysis of the optical nerves and poor muscle coordination. Persistent learning problems and permanently reduced short-term memory capabilities result from the disorder.
Development
Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy interferes with the brain development of the unborn child. Referred to as fetal alcohol syndrome, babies are born with smaller brains and fewer brain cells. Fewer neurons in the brain result in long-term memory problems as well as persistent behavioral side effects. Learning disabilities result from damage to the frontal lobe area of the brain due to alcohol consumption, report researchers at the National Addiction Technology Transfer Center. The microstructural integrity of the brain is affected and causes neurons to misfire creating difficulties with the visual processing of information and erratic behavior.
