Alcohol travels to all parts of the body
through the blood, and that includes the brain. In a small dose, alcohol
increases electrical activity in the brain, and results in a somewhat euphoric
effect, and temporary reduction in depression. However, when a large amount is consumed like taking two or
more bottles of beer, or worse still, a full glass of gin, it interferes with the chemical messages in
the brain and results to clumsiness, slurred speech and reduced memory.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is the term given to a long term effect of
alcoholism, which can affect limbs coordination and cause memory loss. This
occurs when increased alcohol levels leads to reduced thiamine, or vitamin B1,
levels, which helps with brain function.
In addition, the metabolic
product of alcohol by the liver- acetaldehyde- has toxic effects on organs
causing vomiting, headache and inflammation of the liver which may progress to
cirrhosis.
These
deleterious effects are even worse for the adolescent because when he binge
drinks, he can experience brain changes that result in decreased problem solving
ability, difficulty with verbal and non-verbal retrieval, hindered sight
clarity, and a slower or less effective working memory. This is due in part to
the effect of alcohol on neural plasticity in the hippocampus. The hippocampus
is involved in the formation of new memories, and it can be disrupted by
excessive drinking. As heavy drinking continues, the brain becomes less able to
compensate for the disruptions caused by the effects of alcohol. Thus, the more
a teen drinks, the higher the chances for developing permanent neuronal
damage. Disruption of emotional
reactivity due to damaged limbic system, blackouts, or alcohol induced forgetfulness
in which a person does not remember events or behaviour, are also common among
adolescent drinkers.
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