How Does Alcohol Affect the Brain? Long Term Effects

Brain Mia Garnsey

Head Injuries

When you are drunk, you become unstable and experience a lack of balance. This can cause you to fall and sustain serious head injuries. Alcohol is a risk factor for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) [7] due to falls, car accidents, fights, and other blows to the head. According to a 2010 analysis, 35–81% of people who seek treatment for a TBI are intoxicated.

In the short term, a head injury can cause confusion and disorientation. It may also cause dangerous brain swelling. Severe head injuries may even be fatal because they affect the brain’s ability to control essential functions, such as breathing and blood pressure.

The long-term effects of head injuries vary on it severity, including

Dementia-like symptoms, such as difficulties forming new memories
Changes in mood or behavior
Increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
Changes in blood flow patterns in the brain

Mia Garnsey May 2, 2022

You Might Also Enjoy

10 Early Symptoms of Dementia

A dementia condition goes far beyond memory loss – this complicated condition is marked by a series of symptoms, especially in the beginning. But they can be subtle and not always easy to recognize. How do you know if you or a loved one shows signs of Alzheimer’s or another ...

7 Stages of Dementia Disease

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for the cause of dementia in about half of people with dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that progresses over time. Experts use “stages” to explain how a patient’s normal abilities change as Alzheimer’s disease progresses. However, keep in mind that stages are a general criterion, and ...

8 Main Causes of Dizziness

Dizziness is feeling woozy, lightheaded or unbalanced. The ears and eyes, which are part of the sensory organs, are mostly affected. Dizziness can sometimes induce fainting. It is not a disease but may be a symptom of an underlying problem in the body. Symptoms of dizziness include: High fever Seizure ...

10 Best Brain Food for Memory and Brain Health

Overview The brain is one of the biggest and most complex organs of the body; it consists of billions of nerves that communicate via connections called synapses. The brain is protected by a layer of tissue called meninges and the skull. The brain controls the voluntary and involuntary activities of ...

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) – Mini Stroke Warning Signs

Until recently, the transient ischemic attack (TIA) was defined as a picture of a focal neurological impairment lasting less than 24 hours. [1] In other words, it was basically a case of stroke, whose symptoms disappeared spontaneously after a few minutes or hours. The current definition is slightly different. According ...

Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What’s the Difference?

Have you ever wondered how dementia [1] is different from Alzheimer’s [2] disease? Or do you still mistakenly believe that they are the same thing? Let’s try to figure out what the differences are. In short, it’s like the difference between high fever and the flu. Fever is not a ...

Concussion Signs and Symptoms

A concussion is one of the most common traumatic brain injuries (TBI) [1] that usually happens after an impact to the head, either a blow or bumps or violently shaking the head. A concussion usually affects brain function and has effects that may include temporary headaches, temporarily inability to concentrate, ...

Stroke Signs and Symptoms

Overview A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die in minutes. Stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident or CVA for short, is a very serious medical condition which has ...

Archives

Categories

Meta