The health effects of alcohol use and abuse on an individual is variable depending on factors such as pattern and duration of age, sex, socia-economic status, health status and genes . Equally there are times where small of amount of drinking alcohol can be hazardous, such as at the time of pregnancy, while driving or when using medication . With such variability there is no universally safe amount let alone an agreed universal benefit . But there may be some times when very little amount of alcohol can be used to cure some diseases , like common cough .
Effects Of Alcohol On Human Brain :
The brain is extra-ordinarily sensitive to alcohol . Alcohol is a depressant drug that reduces the pace of brain activity combination of effects . Alcohol affects the function of neurotransmitters by altering the communication between them . A sufficient dose can shut down brain function that can lead to unconsciousness or death .
Alcohol dependence occurs through changes in the brain through long-tern exposure . Prolonged exposure to alcohol can cause the brain to become dependent on alcohol in order to maintain appropriate brain activity . Cessation of drinking following long-term use will result in withdrawal syndrome . Prolonged abuse will result in the loss of brain cells .
Brain areas damaged by heavy alcohol use include :
- Corpus callosum : Connects the right and left hemispheres .
- Frontal lobe : Contains regions of the cortex that control movements, language production, problem solving and social behavior .
- Hippocampus : Contains memory of factual nature .
- Mammillary body : A sub region of the hypothalamus related to memory function .
- Parietal lobe : Contains regions of cortex devoted to senses, movement, spatial processing and memory and mathematics, grammar and spelling .
- Temporal lobe : Regions of cortex devoted to auditory information, language comprehension, object identity and categorization .
Studies suggest that adolescent brain development involving memory, language skills, problem solving and attention is adversely affected by alcohol .Reduced function in the frontal lobes and temporal lobes can impair control and judgement and increase likelihood of aggression .
