New Delhi: Liver and heart diseases are some of the commonly associated risks of alcohol consumption. Yet experts claim that the brain, too, is as susceptible to damage caused by alcohol. Even relatively low quantities of alcohol affect brain activity and its capacity to perceive and retain information.
As Dr Neha Pandita, Senior Consultant Neurologist and Unit Head, Clinical Lead – Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders at Fortis Hospital, Noida, claims, even if the changes might be insignificant at first, they would affect the brain’s functioning on a daily basis.
Alcohol affects the formation of memories
Among the first brain structures affected by alcohol is the hippocampus, which plays an essential role in memory and learning processes. This part of the brain kills brain cells; it prevents you from converting short-term experiences into long-term memories. This is a way to have blackouts where you’re awake and functional and don’t remember much or anything at all,” explains Dr Pandita.
This is why some individuals may experience memory loss or blackouts when they have consumed too much alcohol, despite seeming alert and capable of doing routine tasks.
Concentration and decision-making are also affected
Alcohol does not just impair memory. It also impacts the frontal lobe, the area responsible for attention, planning, judgement and impulse control.
“Cognitive decline is not just memory decline. Alcohol also changes the way the brain processes information. Things that used to be easy, such as following a conversation, remembering names, making decisions or solving simple problems, may now take longer and be more difficult,” says Dr Pandita.
Over time, this can make it harder to concentrate, multitask and make sound decisions at work, in school or during everyday activities.
Poor sleep makes the problem worse
Many people believe alcohol helps them sleep better because it initially has a sedative effect. However, the quality of sleep actually suffers.
According to Dr Pandita, alcohol disrupts both deep sleep and REM sleep, the stages that help consolidate memories and restore brain function.
As a result, poor-quality sleep can leave people feeling less focused, slower at thinking and less able to learn new information the following day.
Heavy drinking can lead to vitamin deficiency
Repeated binge drinking can also reduce the body’s levels of vitamin B1 (thiamine), an essential nutrient for healthy brain function.
Dr Pandita explains that thiamine deficiency can damage parts of the brain involved in memory and cognition, increasing the risk of serious neurological disorders such as Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome, both of which may result in permanent memory loss.
Not everyone is affected the same way
The impact of alcohol varies from person to person. “The longer they drink, the more they drink, the greater the risk of decline. Age, pre-existing medical conditions, genetics and nutrition also affect the brain’s reaction to alcohol,” says Dr Pandita.
While occasional drinking may not cause immediate damage, frequent or excessive alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk of long-term cognitive decline.
How to protect your brain
According to Dr Pandita, forgetfulness, poor concentration and slower thinking shouldn’t always be dismissed as signs of ageing or a hectic lifestyle. “Forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, slower thinking or obvious changes in decision-making are not just normal ageing or the result of a busy lifestyle. Alcohol may be a contributing factor, and if necessary, intervention is possible,” she says.
She recommends getting adequate sleep, eating a balanced diet, reducing alcohol intake and correcting vitamin deficiencies to help protect brain health and lower the risk of long-term damage.
