Drinking any amount of alcohol causes damage to the brain, study finds

 Drinking any amount of alcohol causes damage to the brain, study finds 

There is no such thing as a "safe" level of drinking, with increased consumption of alcohol associated with poorer brain health, according to a new study. 

In an observational study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, researchers from the University of Oxford studied the relationship between the self-reported alcohol intake of some 25,000 people in the UK, and their brain scan

The researchers noted that drinking had an effect on the brain's gray matter -- regions in the brain that make up "important bits where information is processed," according to lead author Anya Topiwala, a senior clinical researcher at Oxford

"The more people drank, the less the volume of their gray matter," Topiwala said via email

"Brain volume reduces with age and more severely with dementia. Smaller brain volume also predicts worse performance on memory testing," she explained. 

 

Does alcohol cause damage to the brain?

Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can damage both the brain and liver, causing lasting damage. Excessive alcohol consumption can have long-lasting effects on neurotransmitters in the brain, decreasing their effectiveness or even mimicking them. Alcohol also destroys brain cells and contracts brain tissue.

Does alcohol kill brain cells every time you drink?

Reality: Even in heavy drinkers, alcohol consumption doesn't kill brain cells. It does, however, damage the ends of neurons, called dendrites, which makes it difficult for neurons to relay messages to one another .

What happens to the brain when you stop drinking?

When you stop drinking, your brain no longer has to block GABA functions. So, your brain begins to return to its normal state. The second biological event is the level of neurotransmitter glutamate goes down. It may be a slight amount, but it does go down.

What are the first signs of liver damage from alcohol? 

• swelling of your liver, which may lead to discomfort in the upper right side of your abdomen.

• fatigue.

• unexplained weight loss.

• loss of appetite.

• nausea and vomiting.