Brain Recovery From Alcohol

Alcoholics typically have many serious health issues because of the toll excessive drinking has taken on their bodies. One of the main areas that takes the brunt of the effects of alcohol is the brain. For the brain to recover from alcohol abuse, it is important to abstain from alcohol consumption and lower the brain's dependence on the substance. By abstaining from alcohol, the body will have the ability to begin repairing itself and improve cognition.

Effects

• Alcohol affects the brain in many ways. It starts off with slurred speech, blurred vision, impaired memory, difficulty walking and slowed reaction times. Blackouts and memory lapses are also effects of alcohol. Because of alcohol's affect on the brain, cognitive issues, learning problems and difficulty in physical movements occur from heavy alcohol use.

Statistics

• Excessive drinkers statistically have smaller, shrunken brains when compared to others who have not been drinking excessively. An experiment, reported in the Los Angeles Times in January 2007, observed a group of subjects as they began to abstain from alcohol. After two months of abstinence from heavy drinking, it was recorded that the subjects' brain volumes increased an average of 1.8 percent, and the communication efficiency recorded in the brain cells rose an astounding 20 percent. The chemical changes were matched in progress by simple cognitive function tests. These effects did not take place, however, in the brains of the controlled group of non-alcoholics asked to abstain from drinking alcohol.

Expert Insight

• Research by Andreas Bartsch at the University of Wurzburg showed that when heavy drinkers abstain from alcohol for several months their brains can regain some of their performance levels. During the 15 patient study, many showed significant improvement in cognitive functions and gait, which were impaired from prolonged alcohol use. However some only showed mild recovery and one did not demonstrate any signs of improvement. Based on the research, it is imperative that alcoholics quit drinking alcohol to prevent permanent secondary health problems, irreversible cognitive impairment, or problems with walking and moving.

Withdrawal

• When an alcoholic abstains from using alcohol, a number of things begin to happen. Up to 15 percent of recovering alcoholics experience seizures, with the severity and likelihood of a repeated situation depending upon the number of past withdrawal episodes. Symptoms of withdrawal include jumpiness, nervousness, shakiness, anxiety, irritability or easily excited, rapid emotional changes, depression, fatigue, bad dreams, difficulty thinking clearly, headaches, sweating, loss of appetite, clammy skin, insomnia, nausea and vomiting. It is beneficial for those recovering from alcohol use to have skill development sessions and counseling as part of the treatment.

Cognition

• Although some damage may be permanent, cognitive functions, dexterity and coordination may return to normal or improve. However it is important to continue abstaining from alcohol to achieve optimal effects. Those who consume alcohol regularly have abnormal brain function, but it can return to normal after sustained abstinence.