Long Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Central Nervous System
Alcohol abuse can cause harm to your central nervous system.
Chronic alcohol consumption can have many negative effects on the body and dramatically impairs brain development. Long term alcohol abuse causes dementia, physical dependence and the shrinkage of the brain. While there is some evidence that suggests that alcohol consumption in a low to moderate manner can have some positive health benefits the literature to support such findings is slim and therefore still inconclusive.
Alcohol abuse has been associated with a condition in the brain in which lesions result in brain damage. Long term alcohol abuse can result in lifelong damage to the brain due to toxic levels of alcohol being introduced to the brain. Additionally, alcohol abuse causes a chemical dependency within the brain in which the alcoholic must drink more in order to prevent withdrawal symptoms including headache, shakes and other uncomfortable or even dangerous conditions. Liver damage that results from long term alcohol abuse can also contribute to brain damage as well.
When alcohol is abused the long term effects on the development of the brain are also seen. Alcohol abuse can impair the normal development of the brain resulting in various verbal and non verbal communication impairments when young adolescents take part in heavy binge drinking. Additionally, binge drinking also interferes with the development of new brain cells which can result in myopathy, peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy, three distinct dysfunctions of the central nervous system.
Cognitively, long term alcohol abuse can impair memory and ultimately result in dementia. People who abuse alcohol on a long term basis may forget to do certain things such as forgetting to lock the door or forgetting to pay a bill. Over time these forgetful events may happen more often and closer together. The more alcohol is consumed and the longer the period of time it is consumed the more likely this type of cognitive impairment is and the worse off it will be.
Ultimately, alcohol abuse can cause the most severe and common form of dementia that is Alzheimer’s disease. This deadly disease results from a decline in cognitive function and leads to severe memory loss and ultimately leads to death of the individual. Despite some studies that suggest alcohol may help to reduce chances of Alzheimer’s disease most findings support the fact that moderate alcohol consumption does not do anything to help prevent Alzheimer’s and actually causes impaired brain function as well as dementia.
Meth addiction is a very dangerous and damaging condition that affects thousands of individuals and their families each and every day. When you know that a loved one is addicted to crystal meth, getting them to go to rehab can save their life but how you will get them to accept help is another story. Many meth….
So. Here you are- You with the addiction to cocaine; You with the addiction to meth; You with the addiction to opiates. You have found yourself right smack in the middle of a raging addiction that you have no control over. You feel helpless and scared. You want to get help for your addiction but….
While increasing rates of substance abuse continue to warrant cause for concern, the increasing rate of alcohol abuse among older adults is one of the fastest growing health problems in the United States. Alcohol abuse carries a range of health risks, both physical and psychological. These risks increase substantially for adults aged 60 and older…..
Many people consider what they should bring to their rehab center before treatment, but some forget that there are prohibited items as well that will not be allowed in the facility. It is important to know what not to bring to your rehab facility before you begin treatment. If you are looking for safe, reliable….
According to a study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “Therapeutic community residential treatment is best suited to patients with a substance dependence diagnosis who also have serious psychosocial adjustment problems and require resocialization in a highly structured setting.” As this treatment option has been known to be extremely beneficial to many….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a person does not necessarily need to want to go to rehab in order for rehab to work. This means coerced or forced rehab does still have a chance to get your loved one back on the right path. There are a number of ways to go….
On Thursday, March 22, 2018, a Georgia man was sentenced to 19 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release. Derrick L. Thomas is a 44-year-old man from Douglasville who pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine. He also pled guilty to possessing a firearm in….
Seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction at a professional rehab facility is sometimes the only chance that some people have of getting their life back on the right track. While there are hundreds of reputable rehab centers located throughout the United States, finding and comparing all the different options is never an issue. The….
For those seeking treatment for addiction, they may find many obstacles that make it difficult to return to a sense of normalcy. In the work place, addiction can result in termination of employment. It can also be incredibly difficult to find employment while in recovery when employers learn of a potential candidate’s history of addiction…..
Drug and alcohol addiction is a dangerous condition that can ultimately lead to death if left untreated. You wouldn’t wait to treat a deadly disease such as cancer but yet everyday thousands of drug addicts and alcoholics wait to treat their addiction because they think that life may get better on its own. Unfortunately, sometimes….
