How much can the brain recover from years of excessive alcohol consumption?
—Paul Howlen, London
Richard Ridderinkhof, professor of neurocognitive development and aging at the University of Amsterdam, answers:
Evidence shows that heavy alcohol use modifies the structure and physiology of the brain, although the extent of recovery after years of abstinence is unclear.
Recent neuroimaging studies have revealed that chronic alcoholism can damage the cerebellum, which plays an important role in regulating motor control, attention and language. It can also cause the prefrontal cortex to shrink and degrade, potentially impairing decision-making skills and social behavior. Studies have also found damage in the white matter of the brain, which connects these regions.
The question remains, however, whether such extensive damage can be reversed after abstaining from alcohol. Researchers have studied the effects of abstinence on the brains of alcohol-dependent individuals by comparing subjects recovering from years of alcohol abuse with those who do not drink or drink minimally. Scientists have also investigated changes in brain volume in initial versus sustained abstinence in one set of subjects.
Several of these studies have shown that years of abstaining from booze can allow brain regions to return to their original volume and can repair neural connections across different regions. Much of this restoration occurs in the system most adversely affected by chronic alcoholism—the frontocerebellar circuitry, which regulates decision making, reasoning and problem solving.
Other reports, however, have found sustained injury in certain areas. Some former alcohol abusers show permanent damage to the hippocampus, a brain region that regulates long-term memory and spatial navigation, and only partial resolution of lesions on the white matter.
Although the effects of abstinence on the alcohol-abused brain vary, it appears that we display at least some ability to recover from the effects of excessive drinking. Future neuroimaging studies should clarify the full extent and potential for recuperation.
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9 Comments
Add CommentOK! You've hurt yourself with your drinking. If you don't stop now, you'll hurt yourself more. Better to stop now rather than later. Kinda obvious, isn't it?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI was "hurt" with 23 ect treatments ands years of misdiagnosis and medication. Will my brain recover?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisrecover from psuedoscience..?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRlas, you are clearly far too gone for a full recovery. I would suggest you go ahead and complete the journey. I hear booze will kill mellow the pain.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI've been sober for more than 40years but I guess this explains why I can't remember anyone's name, all the items that my wife told me to pick up at the store, and why I keep bumping into things.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTell me, dear ones, just HOW MUCH is an excessive amount of alcohol?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFoxinwinter:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe human body naturally produces one to two ounces of alcohol per twenty four hours in the digestive process. This is easily metabolized by a person in normal health. Beyond that, the amount of alcohol that is beneficial or does damage differs widely from group to group and individually within groups.
While no use of alcohol is absolutely safe, very generally speaking adult males should be at low risk of harm with consuming two to three ounces of alcohol per drinking occasion as long as it is consumed slowly enough so that the body can metabolize it and it does not build up too much. Eating while drinking and spacing drinks one half to one hour apart will help. Generally a 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. wine, or 1 1/2 oz distilled spirits contain an ounce of alcohol but watch out for "fortified" drinks that may contain more.
Women should be OK with about half the above amount, due to inherent differences in metabolism and (generally speaking) weight.
Due to the lack of maturation of the brain, those under 25 years of age should not drink or, at worst, cut the amount again in half. Alcohol related deaths kill more young people than any other single cause.
Pregnant women, those who are tired, thirsty, or who suffer a temporary or chronic illness that might interact with alcohol should not consume alcohol. Those who weigh less than the average for their gender should drink less.
Not drinking at all is the safest option, one that about 35% of American adults choose for many reasons.
Again, these are generalizations. Every individual must choose what is best for themselves and be prepared to suffer the consequences of bad choices.
As restrictive as this might sound, research has found that the average, adult "social" drinker pretty much stays within these limits as a matter of course. Anyone who often or even occasionally exceeds these guidelines is running the risk of incurring trauma or disease.
I am a retired addictions counselor and professor of chemical dependency counseling. I am also a recovering alcoholic.
Please be careful. For all its glamor alcohol is still a very dangerous drug.
Oh, sorry, forgot: alcohol can react badly with many medications. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication, OTC or prescription, and drinking.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWould you want it to?
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