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In the past, alcohol was believed to be a non-specific pharmacological agent affecting many neurotransmitter systems in the brain, [25] but progress has been made over the last few decades. [ 26 ] [ 21 ] It appears that it affects ion channels, in particular ligand-gated ion channels , to mediate its effects in the CNS.
Alcohol-related brain damage [1] [2] alters both the structure and function of the brain as a result of the direct neurotoxic effects of alcohol intoxication or acute alcohol withdrawal. Increased alcohol intake is associated with damage to brain regions including the frontal lobe , [ 3 ] limbic system , and cerebellum , [ 4 ] with widespread ...
[51] [52] [53] Alcohol passes easily from the mother's bloodstream through the placenta and into the bloodstream of the fetus, [54] which interferes with brain and organ development. [55] Alcohol can affect the fetus at any stage during pregnancy, but the level of risk depends on the amount and frequency of alcohol consumed. [55]
Alcohol (from Arabic al-kuḥl 'the kohl'), [11] sometimes referred to by the chemical name ethanol, is the second most consumed psychoactive drug globally behind caffeine. [12] Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, decreasing electrical activity of neurons in the brain. [13]
It can damage all the organ systems, but especially affects the brain, heart, liver, pancreas and immune system. [4] [5] Heavy alcohol usage can result in trouble sleeping, and severe cognitive issues like dementia, brain damage, or Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome.
“Alcohol is used to help or try to regulate the nervous system when it’s used to soothe anxiety and depression, but we’re learning there are other ways to soothe our nervous system,” says ...
Alcohol scored 46 in the study's damage assessment system, followed by a distant second, heroin (21). In third place was crack cocaine (17), with tobacco, cannabis and cocaine rounding out the ...
On average, for equal body weight, women have a higher body fat percentage than men. Since alcohol is absorbed into body water content, and men have more water in their bodies than women, for women there will be a higher blood alcohol concentration from the same amount of alcohol consumption. [21]