Alcohol and the Brain

Many individuals associate alcohol with a “buzz”—the mood boost that many people experience. Although consumers may desire relaxation, a slower pace, and perhaps some silliness, these results aren’t simply positive side effects of drinking alcohol—they are evidence of a brain that is struggling to coordinate its regular functions.

The Brain and Alcohol

Short-Term Effects on the Brain When Drinking Alcohol

The effects listed below are nearly immediate; these brain changes start to happen as soon as a person’s blood-alcohol content spikes.

• Endorphins (which are “feel-good hormones”) are released when a person consumes alcohol. Endorphins are not negative in and of themselves, but alcohol’s effects on other parts of the brain can be problematic.
• GABA, another neurotransmitter (or messenger signal), slows down, causing slower reactions and slurred speech.
• Inhibitions are lowered, which often leads to hazardous behavior, such as drug use or impaired driving.
• In the case of binge drinking, alcohol slows down the brain’s cerebellum and cerebral cortex. This causes dizziness, blurred vision, and difficulty processing information.
• Alcohol also blocks the transfer of memories in a brain region called the hippocampus. This part of the brain helps us shift short-term memories to long-term storage. When this process is interrupted, it can lead to gaps in memory called blackouts.

Long-Term Risks to the Brain When Drinking Alcohol

Anyone who drinks alcohol regularly is at risk for long-term damage; there is no safe amount. There are many physical risks associated with drinking alcohol, but here we’ll focus only on its effects on the brain.

• Tolerance and dependence increase as an individual drinks more. As a result, they may seek out more alcohol to replicate that elusive “buzz.” The more a person drinks, the higher their risk for a number of physical and mental health outcomes.
• The brain’s structure changes when an individual drinks consistently over time. One of these changes is a predisposition to alcohol use disorder (AUD), in which an individual struggles to control their alcohol intake.
• The brain shrinks. Individuals with alcohol use disorder may have less physical brain matter in the areas controlling attention, language, memory, and reasoning (MacMillan 2022). This only gets worse over time. A British study that followed participants for thirty years found that those who drank—even only moderately—had consistent shrinkage in the part of their brains called the hippocampus (Merz 2017).
• Brain fog, dementia, and early-onset memory loss have been associated with long-term alcohol use.
• Stroke, a known risk for long-term alcohol users, can block blood flow to the brain with potentially life-threatening effects.

Special Considerations

Developing brains are even more prone to damage than adult brains. Exposure to alcohol acts directly on a fetus’s developing brain, which often causes lifelong damage.

The risk doesn’t disappear for children and teenagers—adolescents can suffer long-term damage from using alcohol as well. Read more about the effects of alcohol on underage consumers.

Many factors can cause adults to respond more strongly to alcohol, too. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications can interact with alcohol, which increases the risk to those who chose to drink.

The Healthiest Choice for the Brain

Despite popular belief that drinking can be healthy or relaxing, alcohol consumption comes with many risks.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends limiting alcohol to two drinks or less per day for men or one drink or less per day for women—and, of course, this only applies to individuals above twenty-one, the legal drinking age. However, even this “moderate” amount still exposes those who drink to health risks.

Choosing not to drink is one of the best ways to protect both the brain and body. Even if an individual has been drinking regularly, it’s never too late to stop; there are many health benefits to cutting back or cutting it out.

If you or someone you know has questions about alcohol use, please contact us! Our team can provide resources, referrals, and a judgement-free listening ear.

Sources:

“Alcohol and the Brain: An Overview | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).” n.d. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alcohol-and-brain-overview#:~:text=Alcohol%20interferes%20with%20the%20brain's,injuries%20and%20other%20negative%20outcomes.

“Binge Drinking | CDC.” n.d. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm.

“Excessive Alcohol Use.” 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 11, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/alcohol.htm.

MacMillan, Amanda. 2022. “What Are the Effects of Alcohol Consumption on the Brain?” Health, June 24, 2022. https://www.health.com/condition/alcoholism/effects-of-alcohol-on-the-brain.

Merz, Beverly. 2017. “This Is Your Brain on Alcohol.” Harvard Health. July 14, 2017. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/this-is-your-brain-on-alcohol-2017071412000.