Heavy toll on the brain
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Wounded by alcohol Rebuilding a shattered life Anatomy of a disease Fetuses especially vulnerable to harm from alcohol Alcohol-related deaths in 1992
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| Cerebellum, brain stem In rare cases, longtime alcoholics can develop a thiamine deficiency that leads to loss of muscular coordination, a staggering gait and severe short-term memory loss. This condition is known as Wernicke-Korskoff syndrome, and it cannot be reversed. The loss of motor control in Wernicke-Korsakoff is the result of damage to the cerebellum. People with this syndrome may also lose control of the muscles that move and coordinate the eyes, a condition called nystangus that is caused by damage to the brain stem. |
Cerebral cortex Long-term alcohol abuse also can shrink the cerebral cortex, the outer part of the brain that plays an important role in higher mental functioning. This occurs when the ventricles - the fluid-filled cavities deep inside the brain - enlarge, compressing the cortex against the inside of the skull. When people stop drinking there can be some improvement in this condition. |
Thalamus, hypothalamus, mammillary body Consuming alcohol in large amounts over a long period of time can change the structure of the brain and cause serious problems with cognition and memory, and the toll cannot always be reversed. Among other problems, alcoholics may have difficulty paying attention, solving problems, learning new information and processing visual information. Damage to the thalamus, hypothalamus and mammillary body can impair memory. |
Nucleus accumbens, frontal cortex One of the ways alcohol gives pleasure is by triggering the release of high levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, in the nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex of the brain. Addicts become accustomed to these high levels of dopamine and have to keep drinking to maintain the effect. |
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