Alcohol-related brain damage
Alcohol-related brain damage (pronunciation: /ˈæl.kə.hɔːl rɪˈleɪ.tɪd breɪn ˈdæm.ɪdʒ/) is a form of brain damage caused by long-term, heavy alcohol consumption.
Etymology
The term "Alcohol-related brain damage" is derived from the words "alcohol", a psychoactive substance with dependence-producing properties, "related", meaning connected, and "brain damage", referring to injury or harm to the brain.
Overview
Alcohol-related brain damage is a broad term that encompasses a variety of conditions resulting from chronic alcohol abuse. These conditions include Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, alcoholic dementia, and alcoholic cerebellar degeneration. The damage is often progressive and can lead to significant impairment in cognitive and physical functioning.
Symptoms
Symptoms of alcohol-related brain damage can vary widely, but often include memory loss, difficulty with problem-solving and decision-making, and changes in personality and behavior. In severe cases, individuals may experience hallucinations, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
Causes
The primary cause of alcohol-related brain damage is chronic, heavy alcohol consumption. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies, particularly of thiamine, which is essential for brain health. Additionally, alcohol is toxic to brain cells and can cause direct damage.
Treatment
Treatment for alcohol-related brain damage often involves a combination of abstinence from alcohol, nutritional supplementation, and cognitive rehabilitation therapies. In some cases, medication may be used to manage symptoms.
Related Terms
- Alcohol
- Brain Damage
- Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
- Alcoholic dementia
- Alcoholic cerebellar degeneration
- Thiamine
- Abstinence
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Alcohol-related brain damage
- Wikipedia's article - Alcohol-related brain damage
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski