Alcohol and the Brain

Alcohol interferes with the brain's communication pathways and can affect how it looks and functions. Alcohol makes it more difficult for brain areas to control balance, memory, language, and judgment, resulting in a greater likelihood of injury and other negative outcomes. Long-term alcohol consumption causes changes in neurons, such as a reduction in their size. Below are some key topics related to alcohol and the brain.

The Adolescent Brain

The adolescent brain is more vulnerable to the negative effects of alcohol than the adult brain. Alcohol abuse during adolescence can brain development, potentially resulting in long-term changes in brain structure and function.

Alcohol-Induced Blackouts

Alcohol abuse can cause alcohol-induced blackouts. Blackouts are gaps in a person's memory regarding events that occurred while intoxicated. These gaps occur when a person drinks enough alcohol to temporarily block the transfer of memories from short-term to long-term storage, known as memory consolidation, in an area of ​​the brain called the hippocampus.

Alcohol Overdose

Continuing to drink despite clear signs of significant impairment can cause an alcohol overdose. An alcohol overdose occurs when there is so much alcohol in the bloodstream that the areas of the brain responsible for controlling vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and temperature begin to malfunction. Symptoms of alcohol overdose include mental confusion, difficulty remaining conscious, vomiting, convulsions, difficulty breathing, slow heart rate, clammy skin, slowed reactions (such as the absence of the gag reflex, which prevents choking), and extremely low body temperature. Alcohol overdose can lead to permanent brain damage or death.

Alcohol Use Disorder

As individuals continue to drink alcohol, progressive changes in brain structure and function may occur. These changes can impair brain function and drive the transition from controlled, occasional use to chronic abuse, which can be difficult to control and lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD). Individuals with moderate to severe AUD may enter a cycle of alcohol dependence.

The brain's ability to return to normal after long-term sobriety is not fully understood; however, a growing body of research indicates that at least some AUD-induced brain changes, as well as the accompanying changes in thinking, feeling, and behavior, can improve and possibly reverse with months of abstinence.