Bh28

I have just read that alcohol abuse can cause brain shrinkage?

ScottFromWI

Alcohol can cause a lot of bad things to happen. There is also a lot of false or misleading information via the Internet...I'd recommend seeing a doctor if you feel you may have a problem.

Fly N Buy

The brain rebounds well as does much of the human body - but there is indeed a price paid for our poor decisions. Stopping and staying stopped starts the process of rejuvenation.

I had started to experience some alcohol neuropathy and did not realize what it was all about. Lot's of scary consequences for continuing to imbibe!

jazzfish

Yes, it does, and a lot of associated changes in cognitive functioning as well. Here is a very good article on the subject: Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration and Regeneration in Alcoholism | Alcohol and Alcoholism

And a picture, if you want to see: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publicatio...images/300.jpg

LBrain

among other things...

Boleo

One Doctor tried to tell me that I had drain bamage but I ain't buying it.

Bh28

Thanks guys.

Bh28

There's also a lot of knowledgeable information too.

Cobalt

Continued alcohol abuse damages every single part of your body, especially your internal organs, as well your brain. It's a toxin outright. And the worst part is that the damage is usually slow and isn't detected until there is a serious problem. I'm trying to go cold turkey again as I am not physically dependent enough to suffer from DTs. I won't try to give medical advice, but cold turkey is the path that I take.

Bmac

This explains alot!

To the OP, I agree with Scott. Give Dr. Google a rest. If you honestly feel something isn't quite right, find a real Dr. for a consult.

Bh28

You're the only one then who agrees with him.

Leave me alone. I am not a bad guy. Feel like I'm being harrased by you and mods.

Bmac

I apologize if you feel harrased. That was not my intention at all. What I was trying to say is that many of us, self included, had massive worries about possible physical consequences from our drinking. I would often sit in front of the computer for long periods of time looking up potential problems (hence the Dr. Google reference).

I finally went to a doctor this past week for a check up and to have blood work done to see if there is something that needs attention that may or may not be the result of my drinking.

The "that explains alot" was just making a joke with Boleo. Had nothing to do with you or your original post, which is why I qualified the next sentence "To the OP...". Sorry if you thought otherwise.

Dee74

Noones harrassing you BH. You've gotten sound advice here

I used to terrify myself by looking up things on Google.

Drinking can do a lot of bad things to us - but if we stop drinking, the body is pretty amazing at repair too

D

Gottalife

I dont know about shrinkage, when I shake my head it doesnt rattle but there is a lot of damage. It seemed to me that my brain function and intellect improved greatly when in sobriety, which may just indicate that other parts of my brain took over from the damaged parts.

I certainly don't believe the brain completely heals over time. Your can suggest this to a Korsacovs patient this morning, but you will have to suggest it again in ten minute intervals because they will have forgotten by then. Korsocovs (wet brains) never recover.

Dee74

My experience - my own personal first hand experience of brain damge - is if the brain doesn't heal completely, it certainly adapts

I haven't got wet brain tho, no.

(and bh I'd wager the chances of you having wet brain are even less than the chances of you having brain shrinkage)
D

jazzfish

An important take away from the article I linked to is this: "abstinence has been reported to resolve most neurocognitive deficits associated with alcoholism."

That's states all I need to know about what needs to be done.

MarathonMan

Jazzfish - the picture of the three brains was a real eye opener. Alcoholic brain looking far worse than the alzeihmers brain.

Bostonsportsfan

I've read that active alcoholics have shrunken brains, but it's only temporary. Once you stop drinking the brain can start to recover.

Bostonsportsfan

From what I've read, you're correct.

Aiko

The picture of the brain damaged is pretty SCARY
But body re-generates slowly but surely.
My brain capacity is comming back and my memory by day

MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO