Alcohol Can Cause Brain Damage

Binge drinking 'increases risk' of dementia. More under-65s – and women in particular – will suffer alcohol-related brain damage, say doctors. An increasingly reported form of addiction is binge-drinking, this might be a modern reflection of societal pressures or associated with substance abuse (it is well known that use of stimulants, especially cocaine increases capacity and urge for alcohol consumption). It is therefore perhaps not unsurprising that consultant psychiatrist, Dr Jane Marshall from the Maudsley Hospital is reported in the Observer – saying; "People think that dementia is something that happens to people over 65. But a lot of those under 65 have got cognitive problems and a large proportion of the problems in that group are related to alcohol. Alcohol-related brain damage may account for 10-24% of all cases of all forms of dementia. We know that alcohol is associated with serious cognitive impairment. It reduces memory and general cognition".



There are so many reports of increasing levels of binge-drinking, especially amongst women. It’s a biological fact that women have less capacity to deal with alcohol than men. It is therefore not surprising that there are links reported between binging on alcohol and earlier onset dementia, particularly in women. The good news is that a heavy drinker of either sex who abstains from alcohol can expect to see brain cells regenerate and then improvements in key areas of brain activity. Here is the link to yesterday's Observer piece on the dangers of binge drinking.