Alcohol-Related Brain Damage

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Additionally, many alcoholics develop nutrition issues because of drinking and poor eating habits. All these factors contribute to developing alcohol-related dementia. Several types of dementia exist; Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, followed by vascular dementia and rarer types of dementia, although mixed types of dementia often coexist. If a person uses it heavily long-term, they’re at risk for a number of memory-related health conditions. Older individuals are more vulnerable to the short- and long-term effects of alcohol use on their brains. Dementia affects 5-7% of people over 60 and is characterized by a steady cognitive decline.

Short-term memory

Individuals with alcohol-related dementia generally have issues with their memory. For example, they may struggle to understand new information or details of a conversation.

can alcoholism cause dementia

More rigorous studies using newer dementia, genetic, and neuroimaging biomarkers are needed to establish clearer guidelines for frontline clinicians in an era in which dementia prevention is a public and individual health priority. When alcohol-related brain damage was excluded, alcohol use disorders still doubled the risk of vascular and other dementias. Even when adjusting the data for confounding variables, the link remained significant. Because heavy drinking often comes hand-in-hand with other dementia can alcoholism cause dementia risk factors — including smoking, depression, and low education levels — cause and effect are difficult to tease apart. On the other hand, there is no rationale either, to recommend cutting down on alcohol consumption to reduce dementia risk if consumption is moderate . In summary, our study findings support that alcohol use disorders should be recognised as a major risk factor for all types of dementia. Alcohol-related dementia should be recognised as one of the main causes of early-onset dementia.

What are the types of dementia caused by alcohol?

Early-onset dementia affects an estimated 480,000 Americans and first appears in people under 65 years of age. The observational epidemiological studies underlying the reviews listed in Table 1 were limited because the majority of the studies were restricted to older populations . Owing to these limitations, two systematic reviews refrained from conducting meta-analyses because of the lack of exposure or outcome comparability across studies or both. They may also require medications to help manage symptoms and conditions due to excessive alcohol use.

  • Their metabolism also slows down, so the alcohol stays in their system for longer.
  • The majority of studies do not assess lifetime drinking trajectories.
  • However, women may also develop this disease since alcohol affects them more substantially than men.
  • Mood swings make it harder for a person to stop drinking and even harder for loved ones to help.
  • Your doctor may suggest admitting you to a hospital or alcohol treatment facility to help.