Long-term alcohol abuse not only leads to the shut down of the liver in the body, it can also lead to a smaller brain. Studies that employed brain-imaging machines scanned the brains of alcoholics, and it was shown that the area that controls memory and learning had severely shrunk. The difference between a healthy brain and a shrunk brain is most apparent in the frontal lobe cortex, an area known to neurologists as the site where most intellectual functions are processed. This shrinking does not stop as long as the individual is still binging on alcohol. Usually, loss of short-term memory is the first symptom of brain damage due to alcohol abuse.
A study that took images of an alcoholic’s brain for 5 years showed that the brain became progressively smaller. The amount of reduction in size was directly proportional to the quantity of alcohol consumed by the subjects. In any case, the brain shrinkage of the brains of these alcoholics was not normal.
An individual who has a habit of drinking large quantities of alcohol for long periods is very prone to brain damage due to alcohol. The extent of the damage is dependent on the type and quantity of the alcohol, the systems of the individual in the body, and the diet that the individual has together with chronic drinking.
Binging on alcohol can also cause nutritional problems that lead to brain damage. Malnutrition is observed in many individuals who have consumed large quantities of alcohol. The brain suffers from the lack of vitamins. Thiamine deficiency, in particular, can affect the vital processes and functions of the brain. Alcohol in large amounts is toxic to the system and can lead to failure of the other organs such as the pancreas, kidneys, and liver.
Alcohol is also known to cause severe damage to the central nervous system.
The damage to the brain and to the other organ systems of the body can be reversed, if it there is early intervention. Sometimes, the damage that was detected early on can disappear almost without a trace. A healthy diet consisting of foods that are rich in vitamins like thiamine and vitamin B1 will help undo the effects of alcohol abuse. However, these are not enough. Complete abstinence from alcohol is a must if an individual wants to return his body functions to optimum performance. Milk thistle, a little-known vitamin, is also shown to help repair damage to the liver.
A study that took images of an alcoholic’s brain for 5 years showed that the brain became progressively smaller. The amount of reduction in size was directly proportional to the quantity of alcohol consumed by the subjects. In any case, the brain shrinkage of the brains of these alcoholics was not normal.
An individual who has a habit of drinking large quantities of alcohol for long periods is very prone to brain damage due to alcohol. The extent of the damage is dependent on the type and quantity of the alcohol, the systems of the individual in the body, and the diet that the individual has together with chronic drinking.
Binging on alcohol can also cause nutritional problems that lead to brain damage. Malnutrition is observed in many individuals who have consumed large quantities of alcohol. The brain suffers from the lack of vitamins. Thiamine deficiency, in particular, can affect the vital processes and functions of the brain. Alcohol in large amounts is toxic to the system and can lead to failure of the other organs such as the pancreas, kidneys, and liver.
Alcohol is also known to cause severe damage to the central nervous system.
The damage to the brain and to the other organ systems of the body can be reversed, if it there is early intervention. Sometimes, the damage that was detected early on can disappear almost without a trace. A healthy diet consisting of foods that are rich in vitamins like thiamine and vitamin B1 will help undo the effects of alcohol abuse. However, these are not enough. Complete abstinence from alcohol is a must if an individual wants to return his body functions to optimum performance. Milk thistle, a little-known vitamin, is also shown to help repair damage to the liver.
No comments:
Post a Comment