Effects of Alcohol On The Brain
Consuming alcohol over long duration disrupts the functions of the brain. Physically, alcoholics will be noticeable to have unstable gait, slurred speech, and blurred vision. Alcohol though affects the liver initially, at a later stage it leads to serious brain disorder which medically known as hepatic encephalopathy. Encephalopathy leads to alteration in mood, personality, sleep patterns and finally results in mental depression and anxiety. Due to the effects of alcoholism, problems related to coordination of physical organs tend to develop and alcoholics may develop asterixis, that is, shuddering of hands. Alcoholics may even have a high risk of falling into coma that might be fatal.
How does alcohol affect the neurons of the brain?
Initially, alcohol does not affect the brain rather it affects dendrites, the branched part of neurons that play a significant role in transmitting signals to the brain. Alcohol will widen the brain channel leading to high level of calcium supply to the brain. The high level of calcium flow to the neurons damages them and affects normal brain functions.
Researchers are also of the view that alcohol mixes with the fatty acids of the brain and forms ethyl esters that in turn increase the flow of potassium. The increased potassium level affects the functioning of the neurotransmitters and the communication between cells, leading to behavioral changes. Alcohol intake also causes deficiency in thiamine leading to Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), a serious brain disorder causing mental confusion.
Effects of alcoholism over the cognitive abilities of a person
Alcohol intake, especially on an empty stomach can result in complete black out. It will affect the cognitive abilities of a person to a greater extent. Alcohol dementia or brain shrinking, largely affects the cortex of the frontal lobe, the area of cognitive abilities. This leads to memory loss and affects the reasoning abilities of a person.
Who are worst affected by alcohol? Men or Women?
Many studies have come out with a terrific finding that effects of alcoholism over women are considerably higher than over men. Alcohol has the tendency to shrink the structure of the brain. The shrinkage of the brain is witnessed more in women than in men. Excessive alcohol intake during pregnancy will do much harm to the developing brain of the fetus and the children who are born to alcoholic women are likely to develop fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The brains of FAS children have lesser number of brain cells that lead to difficulties in behavior and learning.
