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There is a correlation between long-term alcoholism and binge drinking – memory does not remain the same. Heavy drinking also may speed up memory loss in early old age, at least in men, according to a 2014 study in the journal Neurology. Although we all lose brain cells as we age, heavy alcohol misuse increases the destruction.
The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. More specifically, those in the study who reported higher levels of alcohol consumption were more likely to miss appointments and important dates like birthdays—or forget to pay bills on time. Even in cases where those in the study stayed within a healthy drinking limit, researchers found a significant increase in memory loss issues. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a type of alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) that can result from chronic alcohol abuse.
In the short term
That is why people experience a range of memory loss symptoms when they binge-drink. Alcohol can cause minor memory loss, such as being unable to remember details of a conversation after a few drinks, or major memory loss, such as forgetting hours of time after taking shots. If you’ve experienced memory loss from alcohol use, it’s essential to seek treatment as soon as possible. If you suspect that a loved one is experiencing memory problems due to drinking, they may need your help in seeking treatment.
But blackouts are no laughing matter, according to expert researcher Dr. Marc Schuckit. Studies also suggest that prenatal exposure to alcohol increases a person’s chance of experiencing blackouts in the future, and certain genes may increase a person’s likelihood to black out. The researchers tested their memories after the first hour by showing them images and asking them to recall the details two minutes, 30 minutes and 24 hours later.
Alcohol and Memory Loss Long-Term
Research shows that heavy alcohol use can damage short- and long-term memory and affect brain structure. There may be ways to lessen alcohol’s effects on memory by reducing the amount of alcohol consumed and by using memory techniques to overcome memory loss issues. There is some evidence to suggest that brain-related alcohol effects may be reversible. One study found that people who stopped drinking were more likely to experience improvements in memory and thinking than those who kept drinking. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not all studies have found such improvements.
The dose–dependent suppression
of CA1 pyramidal cells is consistent with the dose–dependent effects of
alcohol on episodic memory formation. As might be expected given
the excessive drinking habits of many college students (Wechsler et al. 2002),
this population commonly experiences blackouts. White and colleagues (2002c)
recently surveyed 772 undergraduates regarding their experiences with blackouts.
Is Reversing Alcohol Induced Memory Loss Possible?
Respondents who answered yes to the question “Have you ever awoken after
a night of drinking not able to remember things that you did or places that
you went? Fifty–one
percent of the students who had ever consumed alcohol reported blacking out
at some point in their lives, sober house and 40 percent reported experiencing a blackout
in the year before the survey. Of those who had consumed alcohol during the
2 weeks before the survey, 9.4 percent reported blacking out during this period. The younger a person begins binge drinking, the more harm to the brain.
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