Drinking too much alcohol can damage, shrink or kill brain cells.
It can cause harm in different ways at different times, including:
- while you drink
- the day after drinking
- over time
How alcohol can affect your brain while you drink
When you drink alcohol, the alcohol can affect your brain quickly. Even small amounts of alcohol can affect you.
For example, it can:
- affect your coordination, muscle control and balance
- affect your inhibitions and judgement - you might do things you would not normally do
- slow your brain processes - your thinking, talking and movements slow down
This can leave you more at risk of alcohol-related harm, including accidents and injuries.
Why so many alcohol-related accidents happen
How alcohol affects your driving
How alcohol can affect your brain after you drink
Alcohol increases the activity of brain chemicals while you drink. Chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine can make you feel relaxed and happy for a short while.
But as the alcohol leaves your system, the levels of brain chemicals drop. This can lead to low mood or anxiety.
Feeling down after drinking too much
How alcohol can affect your brain over time
Over time, regular alcohol use can cause many types of problems.
Some problems develop because of:
- nerve cell damage - this can lead to problems with memory and behaviour
- impaired blood supply to the brain - this can lead to an increased risk of stroke
- damage to the cerebellum - the part of the brain responsible for balance and walking
- the brain shrinking - this happens as we age and can be made worse by alcohol use
- vitamin deficiency - alcohol affects the body's ability to absorb nutrients such as vitamin B1 (thiamin).
A lack of vitamin B1 (thiamin) can lead to brain cell damage. This increases the risk of brain disorders, including Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Alcohol and risks to brain health
Because alcohol can harm brain cells, it increases your risk of dementia and other brain problems.
The more alcohol you drink, the higher the risk.
Studies show that alcohol is 1 of the modifiable risk factors for dementia. This means you may have some control over this risk factor. Cutting down or giving up alcohol can help reduce your risk of dementia.
If you are worried about your drinking, take our alcohol test. This will help you find out the type of drinker you are.
Potential effects of alcohol on brain health
Drinking too much over a long period of time may cause:
- poor memory
- difficulties with new learning
- balance and coordination problems
- changes in temperament or personality
- attention and concentration difficulties
- mental health difficulties, such as anxiety and depression
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is a serious brain disorder.
It is caused by heavy drinking and a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine).
Many people who are dependent on alcohol lack vitamin B1.
This can be because:
- of a poor diet
- alcohol affects how your body absorbs and uses vitamin B1
Symptoms of WKS include confusion, poor coordination and severe memory problems.
WKS is linked to 2 separate but related conditions:
- Wernicke encephalopathy
- Korsakoff (amnesic) syndrome
Wernicke encephalopathy
Wernicke encephalopathy is a short-lived but life-threatening condition. It is also called degeneration of the nervous system due to alcohol.
Symptoms include:
- muscle problems - your legs may tremble or you may walk with your legs wide apart
- your eyes move quickly from side to side (nystagmus)
- confusion and disorientation - you do not understand what’s happening around you
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 or go to an emergency department (ED) if:
- you notice any symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy
If not treated, you can die from Wernicke encephalopathy. It can also lead to the development of Korsakoff (amnesic) syndrome.
Korsakoff (amnesic) syndrome
Korsakoff (amnesic) syndrome is a longer-lasting brain disorder. It is also called alcohol-induced persisting amnestic disorder.
Symptoms include:
- memory loss
- not being able to create new memories
- difficulty learning new information
- filling up gaps in the memory with made-up stories
People most at risk
Some people are more at risk of brain problems as a result of alcohol use.
These include:
- babies exposed to alcohol while in the womb - they can be born with fetal alcohol syndrome disorders
- teenagers and young people
- someone with mental health difficulties or brain disorder
- someone with a family history of addiction
- older adults
Alcohol and the younger brain
From age 12 your brain starts to undergo some radical changes. These continue until you are in your mid-20s.
During this time, the brain is developing. Your skills and abilities expand and develop.
These changes give you the ability to:
- solve problems
- make sense of information
- regulate your emotions
- develop positive coping strategies
- think clearly and make good decisions
- make plans for your future
Younger people should not drink alcohol during this time. This is because the brain is under construction and being ‘recoded’. Drinking can disrupt this process.
Alcohol affects many functions of the brain, including:
- learning
- remembering
- problem-solving
- mental wellness
Younger people are also more likely to become addicted to alcohol than adults. People who drink before age 15 are more likely to have problem drinking in later life.
Communicating with your child about alcohol
Alcohol and the older brain
As you age, your body’s ability to process and clear alcohol from your body changes. For example, you have less muscle mass and you store less water. This means that alcohol is more concentrated in your system than it used to be.
As you get older, you are also more likely to:
- have health problems
- take medicine
- be at greater risk for other brain disorders, such as dementia
Because of this, older adults do not tolerate alcohol as well as younger people. They are more sensitive to the negative effects of alcohol. This means they experience more harm from alcohol than younger adults.
Physical problems can happen at lower levels of alcohol use in older adults.
It can increase your risk of developing certain health conditions such as cancer of the liver, oesophagus, nasopharynx and colon.
It can also make some health problems worse, such as:
- brain-related disorders including neurological and mental health difficulties
- coronary heart disease
- hypertension
- stroke
- insomnia
- gastrointestinal problems
- problems taking care of yourself, including poor nutrition, poor hygiene and hypothermia
- cirrhosis of the liver
As you get older, you have a higher risk of falling after drinking. And you're more at risk of accidents and injuries.
Alcohol-related accidents and injuries
Stop drinking alcohol to begin recovery
Even if you drink heavily over a long time, your body begins to repair itself as soon as you stop.
If you stop drinking alcohol and stay off it, your brain may recover or make improvements over time.
Non-urgent advice: Get help with problem alcohol use
For confidential advice, freephone 1800 459 459.