What Alcohol Does to the Brain
Helen Otailku
Drinking alcohol is linked to three million deaths and approximately one hundred and twenty million lives adjusted to disability; as a result of what alcohol does to the brain. (1) According to WHO, alcohol is a psychoactive and even harmful substance with the properties to make a person addicted. (2) With alcohol generally consumed in many societies for its pleasure purposes it's linked with all types of health risks.
These health risks call for the need for the public to understand what alcohol does to the brain. Hence, this article explains how interestingly alcohol reaches the brain, the short and long-term effects of alcohol on the brain, and what alcohol does when it reaches different parts of the brain. This will stir a rethink in the general public to take action about their alcohol intake to improve their mental health and well-being.
How Alcohol Reaches the Brain
Alcohol travels straight from the digestive system to the liver through the portal vein unlike food, which is broken down by enzymes. (3) When alcohol enters the body the
liver is exposed to a greater amount because it is the major site for breaking down 90% alcohol consumed. (4) The stomach and small intestine quickly absorb the alcohol that enters the body into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol spreads to the heart and lungs back and forth to be pumped through the arteries to other organs of the body which includes the brain. (5)
Short-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
The short-term effects examine how alcohol affects the brain right after drinking which include:
● Neurochemical effects
● Psychological and behavioral effects.
● Functioning brain changes
A.Neurochemical Effects
Alcohol in the body stirs the brain to release dopamine which causes pleasure whilst blocking glutamate which results in slurred speech, damaged motor coordination, and delayed brain function/performance. (6) It increases the activity of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid which is responsible for reduced anxiety, relaxation, and sedation.
B.Psychological and Behavioral Effects
During the initial stage of drinking the brain triggers feel-good euphoria which is followed by mood swings and aggression. (7)
C.Functioning Brain Changes
Alcohol affects how the brain works regularly. It affects the following parts of the brain: (8)
● frontal lobe leading to impaired judgment and mood swings
● The cerebellum which leads to poor coordination and distorted speech ● The hippocampus can lead to blackouts and memory lapses
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
Long-term effects examine the lasting damage of alcohol on the brain after excessive drinking which include:
● Structural changes
● Cognitive impairment
● Alcohol use disorder
A. Structural Changes
Structural changes are associated with widespread shrinking of the brain and other regions such as a reduction in the cerebral cortex, and damage to the hippocampus leading to premature aging, impaired control, and memory decay. (9)
B. Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive Impairment caused by severe alcohol intake results in huge brain damage which leads to memory loss, lowered attention, and a long-term persistent nature after long-term sobriety. (10)
C. Alcohol Use Disorder
Long term drinking of alcohol leads to a chronic condition known as alcohol use disorder associated with addiction and alcohol abuse. (11)
What Alcohol Does to Different Areas of the Brain
1. The Prefrontal Cortex Area of the Brain
The prefrontal cortex is an area in the brain that is responsible for making decisions, controlling a person's impulse and planning.
Alcohol in the prefrontal cortex leads to lessened volume and disrupted synaptic abilities, especially in the orbital and dorsolateral areas. (12) It impairs glutamate coordination, increases chronic stress, and minimizes the breakdown of glucose in these areas. When this occurs, the person experiences impulse disruption, reduced cognitive balance, inability to make proper decisions, and alcohol addiction.
2. The Hippocampus Area of the Brain
The hippocampus is another region of the brain that is used for forming memories and recovering memories. Heavy drinking leads to damage to the hippocampus, resulting in volume loss (atrophy). It stops the production of new neurons (neurogenesis) and further causes death of brain cells, a break in between neuron signals, and inflammation of the neurons. When alcohol is found in the hippocampus it may lead to chronic limited spatial arrangement, memory loss, and blackouts. (13)
3. The Cerebellum Area of the Brain
The cerebellum plays the role of motor coordination, refined movement, and balance. Alcohol in this brain region leads to a decline of the cerebellar especially in the front superior vermis. It causes the death of Purkinje cells, needed for cerebellar function. When this region is affected by alcohol coordination may become impaired, there is unsteady balance, and slurred speech. Research links this damage to ruined spatial orientation and executive function. (14)
4. The Mesolimbic System Area of the Brain
The mesolimbic system is responsible for dopamine release (ventral tegmental area) and processing reward (nucleus accumbens). (14) Short-term use of alcohol increases dopamine spread but in the long-term decreases the ability of a person to experience dopamine feelings from natural rewards (anhedonia) such as eating food, drinking water, time spent with friends, and exercise. This may result in dependence on alcohol consumption, cravings, and addictions to experience pleasure (dopamine).
FAQs
● How much is too much alcohol intake?
According to research, any amount of alcohol taken carries a health risk, and the risk increases with the higher a person drinks. (15)
● What are some symptoms of deterioration of the brain caused by alcohol?
Some symptoms of alcohol brain deterioration are memory loss, hallucinations, and confusion.
● What is the first area of the brain exposed to alcohol? The first area affected by the brain is the prefrontal cortex because it is highly sensitive which leads to instant impairment of decision making, impulse control, and maladjustment.
Conclusion
Alcohol circulates in the body and arrives at the brain which affects a person’s normal operations. From the limit of brain performance to brain damage, alcohol consumption has more disadvantages than the pleasure it provides the individual. On reaching different parts of the brain it begins to damage. These alarming effects call for the urgent outreach of health educators and public health workers to educate the public about what alcohol does to the brain from a clinical perspective to safeguard their mental health from a clinical perspective.
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