As of 2019, approximately 44% of the global population aged 15 and older consumed alcohol( Wikipedia). This equates to about 2.4 billion people worldwide, with 25% of women and 39% of men reporting alcohol consumption.
People drink for many reasons: to socialize, celebrate, or drown their sorrows. We may drink for trying to change our mood: to feel more relaxed, courageous or confident. However, the effect of alcohol is only temporary. We also feel worse due to how alcohol withdrawal affects our brain and body.
Even though alcohol does so for drinkers to get on their desire but temporarily, alcohol affects human body mainly mentally.
1. Short term effects
A: Mood changes. When alcohol is drunk, it enters the body's circulatory system and alters the brain chemistry by influencing neurotransmitters such as: dopamine, serotonin and GABA ( gamma-aminobutyric acid ).
How does it do so: Alcohol increases dopamine level, creating a temporary sense of pleasure and confidence and this affects the normal brain working and lose of focus on actual tasks as the person is feeling virtual pleasure.
B: Impaired judgement and risky behavior. Alcohol affects the part of conscious mind, leading to loss of self control, focus and normal judgement and this is where you'll se a drinker performing wrong action for instance harassing people in public or urinating in public, things like.
C: Memory impairment: Alcohol affects the brain's neurons and their interconnection which leads to often loss of memories
D: Increased anxiety and panic attack: Some people experience heightened anxiety after taking alcohol and this is due to brain disturbance by alcohol.
2. Long term effects.
2.1 Depression
Many people drink to relieve stress but alcohol actually increase cortisol ( stress hormone) leading to anxiety and eventually depression.
2.2 Cognitive decline
2.2.1 Damage to Brain Cells and Shrinkage of Brain Tissue
Neurotoxicity: Alcohol is toxic to neurons. Chronic alcohol consumption can cause neuron damage, leading to memory problems and cognitive impairment.
Brain Shrinkage: Studies using MRI scans have shown that long-term alcohol use can cause shrinkage of the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory.
2.2.2 Impairment of Neurotransmitters
Disrupts Glutamate Function: Glutamate is essential for learning and memory. Alcohol suppresses its activity, leading to memory loss and slow cognitive processing.
Increases GABA Activity: As said above, GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that causes relaxation, but excessive stimulation by alcohol can lead to drowsiness, confusion, and long-term cognitive dysfunction.
Dopamine Imbalance: Alcohol initially increases dopamine, which contributes to pleasure, but chronic use depletes dopamine levels, leading to motivation and focus issues.
2.2.3 Disrupted Sleep Patterns
Alcohol interferes with REM sleep, which is crucial for memory consolidation and cognitive function.
Poor sleep quality over time contributes to difficulty concentrating, problem-solving, and emotional regulation
2.2.4 Effects on Brain Plasticity.
Brain plasticity is the ability to adapt and form new connections. Alcohol reduces plasticity, making it harder for the brain to recover from injury or learn new skills.
3. Alcohol Dependence & Addiction
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) – How alcohol affects brain chemistry, leading to addiction . When alcohol is consumed, it stimulates the brain’s reward system, increasing the release of dopamine—a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and reinforcement. This makes drinking feel enjoyable, encouraging repeated use and leads to addiction.
4: Conclusion
Formerly, people used to drink alcohol and don't observe serious impacts of it and assume that alcohol has no negative impacts on human body, but nowadays studies proven the impacts of it and they're serious and even more when combined with other factors to harm out body and sometimes it harms slowly. And for that scientists encourage people to not take much alcohol for protecting their body against those effects mainly the long term effects. People are encouraged to drink as much less as possible or even not drink.
N.B. Not only alcohol affects mental health but it also affects physical body. Studies shows that 3.4%to 4.4% death cancers are due to alcohol consumption globally(PubMed), and 18% of liver cancer in USA is due to alcohol consumption ( Wikipedia). Not only that but also cardiovascular disease, intestine cancer, and so on.
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