How Alcohol Affects the Brain [Infographic]

Alcohol affects the brain in two main ways:

• It inhibits the brain’s neurotransmitters, which slows down thought processes as well as speech and movement.
• It triggers the release of “happiness hormones” called endorphins. The endorphins act on the brain’s opiate receptors, producing a pleasurable, euphoric feeling. However, tolerance can build up over time and it may take more and more alcohol to produce this feeling—which can lead to alcohol addiction.

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Areas of the brain affected by alcohol:

• • Medulla: Lower body temperature, respiratory, and heart rate
  • Cerebellum: Impaired balance and movement
  • Cerebral cortex: Lowered inhibitions, dulled thought process
  • Hypothalamus: Heightened sexual arousal

• Hippocampus: Loss of memory
• Frontal lobe: Loss of judgement
• Reticular activating system: Sleepiness, potential for passing out

Some cognitive issues caused by long-term alcohol use:

• Neurotoxicity is when neurotransmitters are overworked and the brain’s neurons stop working
• Shrinkage or atrophy of brain matter
• Serious defects in language or memory
• Alcohol-related dementia
• Brain disorders such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
• Fetal alcohol syndrome in children whose mothers drank while pregnant

Note: In some cases, brain damage caused by heavy alcohol use can be improved with roughly a year of abstinence from drinking.  (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)