Preprint / Version 1

Alcohol and its Effects on the Brain

##article.authors##

  • Preston Peeler

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.550

Keywords:

alcoholism, effects of alcohol, neuroscience, brain

Abstract

Fifteen million people in America today struggle with alcoholism.1 Scientists understand that alcohol affects the way our brain works by damaging our frontal lobe, the part of our brain associated with memory, problem solving, and motor control.1 What scientists are still hypothesizing about is how exactly alcohol damages the frontal lobe, how adolescents are at an increased risk of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) than adults, and how other diseases are linked to alcohol. The aim of this paper is: How does alcohol affect the nervous system on both a short-term and long-term level? The goal of this paper is to study and analyze alcohol’s effects on the brain in order to demonstrate the risks of consuming alcohol. This paper will review current literature on the nervous system, the neurotransmitter Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), alcohol, and the health effects of alcohol on the brain, and from this conclude that alcohol’s risks outweigh its benefits.

References

Sullivan, Edith V, et al. “Alcohol’s Effects on Brain and Behavior.” Alcohol Research & Health : The Journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3625995/.

Oscar-Berman, Marlene, and Ksenija Marinkovic. “Alcoholism and the Brain: An Overview.” Alcohol Research & Health : The Journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2003, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6668884/.

Sheffler, Zachary M., et al. “Physiology, Neurotransmitters - Statpearls - NCBI Bookshelf.” National Library of Medicine, 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539894/.

Jewett, Benjamin E., and Sandeep Sharma. “Physiology, GABA - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.” National Library of Medicine, 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513311/.

Davies, Martin. “The Role of GABA Receptors in Mediating the Effects of Alcohol in the Central Nervous System.” Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : JPN, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2003, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC165791/.

“Chemical Composition of Alcoholic Beverages, Additives and Contaminants.” National Library of Medicine, 1988, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531662/.

“How Alcohol Impacts the Brain.” Northwestern Medicine, Mar. 2021, www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/alcohol-and-the-brain.

Vengeliene, V, et al. “Neuropharmacology of Alcohol Addiction.” British Pharmacological Society, 29 Jan. 2009, bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1038/bjp.2008.30.

Edenberg, Howard J, and Tatiana Foroud. “Genetics and Alcoholism.” Nature Reviews. Gastroenterology & Hepatology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4056340/.

Ryback, Ralph S. “The Continuum and Specificity of the Effects of Alcohol on Memory; a ...” Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 23 Apr. 2020, www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.15288/qjsa.1971.32.995.

Mintzer, Miriam Z. “The Acute Effects of Alcohol on Memory: A Review of Laboratory Studies in Healthy Adults.” De Gruyter, De Gruyter, 1 Oct. 2007, www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/IJDHD.2007.6.4.397/html.

Kranzler, Henry R., et al. “Genome-Wide Association Study of Alcohol Consumption and Use Disorder in 274,424 Individuals from Multiple Populations.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 2 Apr. 2019, www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09480-8.

“Drunk Driving.” NHTSA, www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving. Accessed 14 Sep. 2023.

Downloads

Posted

2023-10-05