Updated at : 17-03-26 18:19:45

Alcohol And The Ageing Brain: A Silent Cognitive Decline

Alcohol consumers constitute one of the biggest groups both globally and in India.

It's been consumed from time immemorial in different civilisations. It's one of the proven ways of getting rid of stress and anxiety. However, there are side effects, better say negative impact.

One such is alcohol and cognitive decline.

There is a study backing the observation. If you belong to the millennials, Gen Z, or Gen X, this blog relates to you. The study unravels the discussion, providing you with insight on the topic. Stay with us till the end.

Stages Of Alcohol Intoxication

Before we discuss the effect of alcohol on thinking ability, let's try to understand the alcohol side effects on brain.

Subliminal Intoxication

When the blood alcohol content, or BAC, in the human body is between 0.01 and 0.05, it is considered the first stage of intoxication. At this time, you can react; however, your reaction time and judgement will be slightly altered.

Euphoria

This is the next symptom of intoxication. In this stage, your reasoning and memory will be slightly impaired.

In this stage, the BAC is between 0.03 and 0.12. You may look confident, but your memory and reasoning won’t be great.

Excitement

This is the stage of intoxication (BAC from 0.08 to 0.25). You will think that you are out of control, and you will observe impaired judgment and mood swings. You might even feel like vomiting.

Confusion

In the study of how alcohol affects the brain over time, this point is unmissable. The BAC at this stage will be between 0.18 and 0.3. It's an extreme state, and you may be lost in a blackout. Even temporary loss of consciousness and short-term memory loss are common in this stage.

Stupor

This is the stage of alcohol poisoning. Your sensory function (at BAC 0.25) will be thoroughly impaired.

Coma and Death

These are the ultimate stages of alcohol consumption. To know more, you may reach out to a brain/ nerve doctor who can guide you on medication.

Alcohol And Cognitive Decline: The Study And Observation

In research supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, researchers worked on mice having brain circuitry similar to that of humans.

It is found that neither alcohol nor stress alone can cause damage to the human brain, but the combination of both can.

People who take refuge in alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety from a young age end up with difficulties.

Actually, the effect of alcohol on thinking ability takes its worst manifestation in middle age. Between adolescence and middle age, the adaptive capacity to changing situations reduces because stress is registered in the brain.

Alcohol Memory Loss Symptoms

In the study of the neurological effects of alcohol on the brain, the symptoms are important. If you drink too much alcohol, you might fail to remember facts. Also, you may fail to remember even the faces which you are used to seeing. Both short-term and long-term memory loss are common.