Alcohol addiction may have comprehensive and widespread effects on the brain. The effects can extend to simple memory lapses to permanent and incapacitating conditions. There are many factors that determine how alcohol addiction affects the brain:
1) health status,
2) age,
3) level of education,
4) gender,
5) genetic background,
6) family history,
7) how much and how often a person drinks,
8) how long a person has been drinking, etc.
Some of the impairments such as blurred vision, slurred speech, slow reaction times can occur after only one or two drinks, which quickly ceases when the drinking stops.
Alcohol can also produce blackouts and memory loss after several drinks depending on how quickly the alcohol was consumed and if the person had an empty stomach or not. It has been determined that blackouts are more common than previously assumed among social drinkers and that blackouts should be considered as a potential consequence of acute intoxication. Those who suffer with alcohol addiction, however, run the risk of developing formidable and persistent adverse changes in brain size and function. Studies have shown that both men and women who suffer with alcohol addiction have notably greater brain reduction, which results in learning and memory problems.
Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging have disclosed deficits in the frontal lobe regions, which is responsible for functions associated with learning and memory, and in the cerebellum, which controls movement and coordination, of the brains from those who suffer with alcohol addiction. It has not been determined if the loss of brain mass is due from the direct effects of alcohol on the brain or as an indirect result from a diminutive health status, liver problem, or possible thiamine deficiency that results from alcohol addiction. Thiamine or vitamin B1 deficiency is common among those who suffer with alcohol addiction. Vitamin B1 is an important nutrient for the brain. Thiamine is found in all sorts of foods and most people intake more than the USDA recommended daily allowance; however, up to 80% of those who abuse alcohol have a shortage of the vitamin.
It was believed that the adult brain had a fixed number of cells and that new cells could not be added. The belief was that once brain damage occurs, the best way to treat the ailment was to strengthen the existing brain cells. Doctors have recently found that new neurons can be created, which gives hope to those suffering with brain loss due to alcohol addiction.
Alcohol addiction is a serious and deadly illness. Left untreated, the ailment kills and ruins lives. When looking for an alcohol treatment center, it is best to find a facility that uses an holistic approach including an aggressive vitamin regimen in order to help start the physical and mental healing processes. If you know someone who is suffering from alcohol addiction, it is important to contact a professional to at least start the process of finding the proper help for him or her.
