Drinking alcohol is common — more than 84% of adults in the United States report having a drink at some point. Enjoying an occasional drink is unlikely to significantly impact your health — however, moderate or heavy drinking can have long-term impacts on your health, particularly your brain.

Alcohol significantly impacts the parts of the brain that control memory, speech, balance and judgment. This makes the person drinking more susceptible to injury or making poor decisions, such as driving under the influence.

“Just a few glasses of alcohol can disrupt normal brain function and impact your thinking, emotions and perception,” said Chad Yucus, MD, a neurologist at Endeavor Health. “While some changes in the brain may be temporary, other changes may have long-term consequences on cognition and balance.”

Dr. Yucus explores how alcohol can impact the brain during just one instance of drinking, as well as the long-term effects of chronic alcohol misuse.

The brain at each level of intoxication

While the entire body is affected by alcohol via the bloodstream, its largest impact is on the brain. Alcohol interferes with the complex communication network of neurons and chemical pathways in the brain.

It only takes five minutes for alcohol to reach our brain and 10 minutes for it to start taking effect. In 20 minutes, the liver begins to process alcohol, but it can only handle about 1 ounce every hour. Alcohol intoxication happens when we drink more alcohol than our bodies can process and metabolize.

There are seven levels of intoxication, ranging from mild to fatal:

  1. Subliminal intoxication. This usually occurs after one drink for most people. Your behavior, judgement and reaction time may be affected.
  2. Euphoria. Your brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to feeling pleasure. Your memory and reasoning are likely somewhat impaired.
  3. Excitement. This stage occurs when you are legally intoxicated. You are likely experiencing slurred speech, blurred vision, a loss of fine motor skills, slower reaction time and impaired judgement.
  4. Confusion. You are likely disoriented and need assistance walking or standing. This is often when people experience blackouts, which is when the drinker temporarily loses consciousness and short-term memory.
  5. Stupor. All your physical and mental functions are severely impaired at this stage, and you are likely showing signs of alcohol poisoning.
  6. Coma. Because your respiration and circulation are severely impacted, you are at risk of death at this stage.
  7. Death. A blood alcohol content (BAC) over 0.45 may be fatal.

“At any stage of intoxication, your brain is impacted to some degree,” explained Dr. Yucus. “It’s important to be aware that the more you drink, the more you are altering the way your brain operates, making it harder for your brain to regulate your behavior and physical abilities.”

Long-term brain impacts of alcohol

Subjecting your brain to long-term, heavy drinking alters the makeup of your neurons, which are your brain cells. Alcohol abuse can reduce neuron size, impair their ability to transmit electrical signals, damage both white and grey matter, and cause brain atrophy.

As a person continues to chronically and heavily drink alcohol, they can alter the very structure of their brain. Unfortunately, these alterations can impact the function of the brain and potentially lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD). These brain changes impact how the individual thinks, feels and behaves, and can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges.

So, are these brain changes reversible?

“The good news is that some studies suggest that they can potentially be reversed within roughly a year of abstaining from alcohol,” said Dr. Yucus. “Unfortunately, we still do not know how much of the brain is able to improve after long periods of alcohol misuse.”

Knowing how alcohol changes your brain — whether temporarily or permanently — can help you make better choices before deciding to drink.

“No one is immune to the effects of alcohol,” said Dr. Yucus. “Know your limits, drink responsibly and occasionally, and if you’re struggling with a cycle of addiction, seek professional help.”

If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available. Our behavioral health experts offer whole-person care for addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions at every stage of recovery — including inpatient, outpatient and detox services. We’re here to support you in this journey. Learn more
 

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