Better Brain Fitness (a Brainjo Production) #58: Can The Brain Recover From Years Of Heavy Drinking?
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Oct 15, 2024 They explore whether years of heavy drinking can be reversed and what the research actually shows. Discussion covers which cognitive domains and brain regions are most affected. Recovery timelines and factors that speed healing, like nutrition, thiamine, exercise and cognitive stimulation, are highlighted. Animal studies and the limits of human extrapolation are also discussed.
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Alcohol Impacts Exist On A Continuum
- Alcohol's effects on the brain lie on a spectrum, so even heavy but high-functioning drinkers may show few deficits on standard tests.
- Imaging and UK Biobank data show linear decreases in gray and white matter volumes, especially above ~2 UK units/day (≈1 US unit).
Brain Structure And Function Largely Recover After Abstinence
- Substantial recovery of cognition and brain structure occurs with abstinence: short-term memory can improve within weeks and cortical volumes begin recovering by ~3 months.
- By several years (studies cited up to seven years) most deficits resolve except some persistent visuospatial deficits.
Train The Skills You Want To Recover
- Actively stimulate recovery through cognitive engagement and targeted practice rather than relying solely on spontaneous healing.
- Example activities include visuospatial training like complex games, pickleball, or challenging computer tasks to boost recovery.