Alcoholism Cause and Effects:
Impairments to the Brain

Blurred vision. Slurred speech. Dizziness, Memory problems. These are some of the alcoholism cause and effects on the brain. There are many other consequences of heavy drinking that can result in life-long brain impairments and an inability to function even when sober.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a number of factors influence how and to what extent alcohol affects the brain, including:

• How much and how often a person drinks;
• The age at which he or she first began drinking, and how long he or she has been drinking;
• The person's age, level of education, gender, genetic background, and family history of alcoholism;
• Whether he or she is at risk as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure; and
• His or her general health status.

After only a few drinks, brain function begins degradation. As the amount and speed of alcohol consumption increases, so does the harm to the brain.

Binge drinking, defined as consuming four to five drinks or more within a two hour period, can lead to blackouts – periods of time when individuals have no recall of details and events.

Alcoholism Causes and Effects in Women

Studies indicate that women are more susceptible than men to many of the medical consequences of alcohol use. Alcoholic women develop cirrhosis, alcohol–induced damage of the heart, and nerve damage after fewer years of heavy drinking than do alcoholic men.

However, gender differences in alcohol–induced brain damage have not been determined based on research studies. For more information on alcoholism cause and effects in women, click here.

Alcoholism Cause and Effects: Direct/Indirect Brain Damage

The NIAAA reports that long-term alcohol use causes serious and persistent changes in the brain. Damage may be a result of direct effects of alcohol on the brain or may be caused indirectly, from consequential health problems.

For example, alcoholism causes and effects include a thiamine deficiency from poor overall nutrition. Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is an essential nutrient required by all tissues, including the brain.

Thiamine is found in foods such as meat and poultry; whole grain cereals; nuts; and dried beans, peas, and soybeans. Many foods are also fortified with thiamine.

Yet, up to 80 percent of alcoholics are reported to be thiamine deficit and some go on to develop serious brain disorders that may include:

• Mental confusion
• Paralysis of the eyes
• Problems with muscle coordination
• Learning difficulties
• Short and long-term memory problems

Administering thiamine under a doctor’s supervision may help improve brain function in some heavy drinkers. Yet, when brain damage is severe, the alcoholic may have permanent impairments that cannot be treated.

Heavy drinking has long been associated with damage to the liver, which is the organ responsible for breaking down alcohol into harmless byproducts and clearing it from the body.

Yet, prolonged liver dysfunction, such as liver cirrhosis resulting from excessive alcohol consumption, can harm the brain and lead to a potentially fatal brain disorder known as hepatic encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy can cause changes in sleep patterns, mood, and personality; psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression; severe cognitive effects such as shortened attention span; and problems with coordination such as a flapping or shaking of the hands (called asterixis).

In the most serious cases, patients may slip into a coma (i.e., hepatic coma), which can be fatal. To treat this disorder, liver-assist devices or a liver transplant may be recommended. Administering L–ornithine L–aspartate may also be an alternative suggested by the alcoholic’s healthcare professional.

Click here for the complete NIAAA report on alcoholism cause and effects on the brain, published in the October 2004 issue of Alcohol Alert.

Related Information

Return HOME from Alcoholism Cause and Effects