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Post-Traumatic Brain Damage and Drinking Alcohol

Sep 14, 2011 | By P. Christine Smith
Post-Traumatic Brain Damage and Drinking Alcohol
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For healthy adults, having a single drink may be inconsequential, but for others the indulgence may have significant negative consequences. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that impairs judgment and coordination, decreases the flow of oxygen to the brain, has a toxic effect on brain tissue and, over time, can kill brain cells. Consuming alcohol also alters how people manage their emotions and behavior, and it interferes with thought processes. These effects are likely more intense in individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, leading experts to proclaim that no level of alcohol consumption is safe or recommended. If you or someone close to you has had a traumatic brain injury, seek a doctor's advice about alcohol consumption.

Impaired Recovery

Using alcohol, particularly in the first several years after suffering a traumatic brain injury, can slow recovery. The brain is in a period of spontaneous recovery and the damaging effects of alcohol hinders this process. Additionally, excessive drinking can cause serious damage to brain cells and nerves, worsening the traumatic brain injury's effects. Most people heed the advice to abstain from drinking alcohol. A May 2005 article in the "Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society" reports that 70.3 percent of study subjects continued to abstain from alcohol one year after suffering traumatic brain injury, while 14.3 percent reported moderate drinking and 15.4 percent reported heavy drinking.

Increased Risk of Depression

Alcohol is a depressant and consuming it increases your risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. An article in the July 2005 "Archives of General Psychiatry," a publication of the American Medical Association, suggests a connection among traumatic brain injury, alcohol consumption and mood disorders. Alcohol's toxic effects may interact with the brain injury to cause further damage to the brain and to the neurological pathways that regulate mood, reward and executive function.

Increased Risk of Further Injury

People who have suffered a traumatic brain injury may have diminished motor skills and find it more difficult to maintain balance. An injured brain may lack the resources to compensate for the destabilizing effects of alcohol on judgment and movement, placing the recovering patient at greater risk of suffering another traumatic brain injury, Alcohol also may decrease the effectiveness of prescription medications, making you more susceptible to seizures or other problems.

Pre-Injury Behavior Affects Post-Injury Behavior

People who abused or were dependent on alcohol prior to a traumatic brain injury are more likely to consume alcohol after the injury. However, there appears to be a window of opportunity to change that behavior, as the majority of people tend to steer clear of alcohol for a while after suffering a traumatic brain injury. A study published in the June 1997 "Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation" found that 84 percent of subjects indicated that they had stopped consuming alcohol or were contemplating the move. The study concludes that intervention during this period may result in a positive change in alcohol-related habits. If you need help to stop drinking alcohol, talk to your doctor.

References

Article reviewed by Kaydee Lowrey Last updated on: Sep 14, 2011

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