What Effects Does Alcohol Have On Our Brain? A New Drug May Reverse The Effects, New Study Suggests

For the study, adult mice underwent two weeks of daily treatment with the drug and saw a reduction in anxiety like behaviours associated with alcohol withdrawal. It reversed the effects of 15 weeks of binge-like alcohol consumption on neurogenesis- the ability of the brain to grow and replace neurons. This was also accompanied by a significant decrease in binge-like alcohol intake.

While it may have become an integral part of the social scene, prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to many side effects especially to the brain. Here are some of the effects that alcohol may have on your brain.

1. It is said that alcohol consumption may exacerbate an underlying mental health disorder.
2. Alcohol may also produce detectable impairments in memory after only a few drinks and as the amount increases, so does the degree of impairment.
3. Large quantity of alcohol when consumed quickly, especially on an empty stomach, is known to produce a blackout, or an interval of time for which the person cannot recall details of the events.
4. According to the BMJ, moderate alcohol drinking can prove to be a risk factor for adverse brain outcomes and cognitive decline.
5. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, heavy drinking during adolescence and into young adulthood may be associated with detrimental effects of brain development, brain functioning and neuropsychological performance.

With Inputs from IANS