Alcohol Induced Dementia: Brain Damage Risk from Addiction

Alcohol addiction can wreak havoc on the body and mind. The longer an individual suffers from addiction, the higher risk they are to experience the negative effects of alcohol. With many of the long-term effects associated with heavy drinking, the risk is reduced when an individual makes the effort to quit drinking altogether. For those suffering from addiction, this typically requires a detox treatment program followed by inpatient or outpatient treatment.

Alcohol induced dementia occurs when nerve cells needed to control your thoughts and body are damaged due to heavy consumption of alcohol. This can cause a wide range of problems for an individual including difficulty with memory loss or motor skills. Alcohol induced dementia is also considered a type of alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD).

Oftentimes with the case of dementia, it can be progressive. But, that is not the case with alcohol induced dementia, giving individuals a major solution to reducing their risk. 

Alcohol induced dementia is not progressive. It occurs when alcohol damages nerve cells and blood vessels in the brain. Heavy alcohol consumption can also lead to a deficiency in essential nutrients like vitamin B1, putting an individual at a higher risk of brain damage. Because alcohol induced dementia is caused by damage to the brain, it does not worsen or spread over time. However, if an individual continues heavily drinking frequently, they could experience more damage. To prevent the condition from worsening, an individual has to quit drinking alcohol.

Brain damage caused by alcohol induced dementia can lead to serious consequences for the body and mind, including:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty processing information
• Difficulty communicating
• Mood swings
• Agitation
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Lack of spatial awareness

The brain’s functioning worsens the more an individual drinks. Catching signs of alcohol induced dementia in early stages can prevent cognitive decline before it gets severe. In severe cases, those suffering from alcohol induced dementia may require constant care if the brain is damaged enough to cause difficulty talking, walking, or allowing the individual to take care of themself.

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) occurs when thiamine deficiency, or lack of vitamin B1, causes brain damage. This includes symptoms like confusion, lack of energy, loss of coordination, vision problems, and memory loss. WKS is a condition that can be directly caused by frequent or long-term alcohol abuse.

WKS consists of two brain disorders that often occur together: Wernicke’s disease and Kosakoff’s psychosis. Alcohol use disorder often causes a deficiency of vitamin B1, also known as thiamine. As a direct result of thiamine deficiency, individuals addicted to alcohol can suffer from WKS. It can be diagnosed in individuals by a doctor by identifying symptoms of WKS and confirming the diagnosis using an MRI scan of the brain. While there are other conditions that can lead to WKS, such as AIDS or cancer, alcohol use disorder is a common cause of the two disorders.

Wernicke’s disease, also known as Wernicke’s encephalopathy, is caused by biochemical lesions of the central nervous system. This causes a wide range of neurological symptoms including difficulty with vision, difficulty walking, drowsiness, disorientation, autonomic dysfunction, ataxia, and more. This disease is considered to be an acute brain disorder. Alcoholics suffering from symptoms of Wernicke’s disease should seek treatment immediately or risk irreversible damage to the brain.

Korsakoff’s psychosis, also called Korsakoff’s syndrome, is a long-term and chronic memory disorder and disorder of the central nervous system. Common symptoms include amnesia, memory loss, confusion, difficulty learning, hallucinations, or even behavioral changes. As with Wernicke’s disease, those experiencing symptoms of Korsakoff’s psychosis should quit drinking alcohol immediately to reduce neurological risk.

The solution to reducing the risk of alcohol induced dementia is simple, but it may not be easy for every individual. Those at risk of alcohol induced dementia, or who have already begun to experience it, should stop drinking alcohol. For those suffering from alcohol addiction, this may not be an easy solution and requires a detox program followed by inpatient or outpatient treatment. 

By quitting drinking, no more alcohol is able to cause damage to nerve cells and blood vessels in the brain. In addition, it prevents deficiencies in essential nutrients like vitamin B1, also known as thiamine. 

If you or a loved one need help quitting drinking, contact Behavioral Health Centers at 855-299-4472. You can also verify if your insurance covers treatment by completing this insurance form.