How alcohol affects the brain

Some people believe that alcoholics are people whose brain is overwhelmed with alcohol. Indeed, getting into the bloodstream, alcohol affects the brain of any man.

Alcohol weakens the functions of the brain associated with decision-making and reflexes. This effect begins to occur long before the man is drunk. Even drinking one or two alcoholic drinks can lead to blurred vision, difficult walking and slurred speech. These symptoms subside when a person stops drinking.

Another consequence for the drinker and chronic alcoholic is the temporary memory loss. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines a temporary loss of memory as a "period of time in which the person is being intoxicated and cannot recall key details of events or the whole event."

Every person who uses alcohol has temporarily lost his memory at least once.

Alcoholics who have temporarily lost their memory, told that they had very risky and dangerous behavior. Not only the brain is in danger, but also overall health, and well-being.

Besides memory loss, chronic alcoholics have difficulty in abstract thinking and memory.

One of the most serious consequences of chronic alcoholism is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which corresponds two stages:

 

• first condition - Wernicke encephalopathy, which includes problems with muscular coordination, paralysis of the nerves which control the movement of the eyes, and confusion;
• the second part of the syndrome - Korsakov psychosis characterized by problems with memory.

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is sometimes regarded as alcoholic dementia.

Brain damage can be severe and permanent, but it is only one of the factors associated with excessive alcohol consumption. If you or your loved one is suffering from alcoholism or alcohol abuse, you should contact us for assistance as soon as possible.