Alcohol and Memory Loss

Alcohol abuse is a serious condition for many reasons. One calculate is that alcohol abuse can lead to any types of memory loss. Alcohol has indispensable impact on the brain's quality to make and reserve memories. It creates a wall for memory formation and memory recall, inhibits our brain function, and negatively impacts our quality to think clearly.

There are different levels of memory loss linked to alcohol abuse. The first level is fragmentary memory loss or "brownout." This occurs when a someone drinks excessively and does not remember the events of that time duration until someone else provides some clues or prompts: "Do you remember what you did last night?" This can be a scary request as the fuzzy images of the night before begin to reemerge in your memory.

Blackouts are the next level of memory loss. When a blackout occurs due to heavy alcohol consumption, the someone will not be able to recall any of the events, even if prompted with cues. This is because the brain was not able to perfect the process for making a memory. The someone loses a gap of time and will not get it back.

A serious consequence of inordinate drinking can be the amelioration of alcohol dementia, which is also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. This is a mixture of two disorders. Wernicke's Disorder involves nerve damage in both the central and peripheral nervous system that is brought on by poor nutrition, especially low thiamin levels. Drinking alcohol can cause lower thiamin levels. Korsakoff's Syndrome impairs memory, problem-solving skills and studying abilities. One identifying indication of illness of Korsakoff's Syndrome is that the someone will make up very detailed stories about experiences they haven't had. This disorder is most ordinarily linked to alcoholism.

Memory loss due to alcohol abuse is a serious issue. If left untreated, alcoholism can lead to brain damage that has lasting effects on memory. Memory loss is a warning sign that inordinate drinking is occurring.