Published in Science Advances, the study examined how and why chronic alcohol exposure impacts the brain, as well as for how long those effects actually last. And it's definitely longer than one might think.
To do so, researchers simulated the effects of alcohol dependence on a group of 27 rats (17 males; 10 females) with a method called chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor exposure. The rats were placed in special chambers and made to breathe ethanol vapor for 16 hours a day, five days a week, over the course of four week, allowing them to recreate the effects of chronic alcohol use without having the rats drink any.
Related: How Different Types of Alcohol Impact the Liver
In very simple terms, it’s the part of the brain that helps you remember that touching a hot stove hurts—and teaches you not to do it again.
The male's brain cells also showed stronger reactions to outcomes like getting a reward, but simultaneously weaker signals for making plans or learning from previous choices.
To go back to the stove analogy, long-term alcohol use can make you forget why you shouldn’t touch it when it’s hot. Male rats kept reaching for the burner.
Gender makes a difference
That said, the alcohol didn't seem to impact the female rats' brains in the exact same way. According to the study, female rats didn't show the same level of behavioral changes, seemingly demonstrating less of a change in how they processed decisions and outcomes.
Think of it like this: Male rats kept touching the hot stove over and over, forgetting it burned them in the first place. Female rats only touched it once, but their brains held onto the feeling of the burn for longer. While they didn’t make the same mistake again, they may have lingered on the memory of the pain, processing it more deeply, which can be upsetting in a different way.
Why Does This Matter for Me?
Of course, rats are not humans, and more in-depth human studies need to be conducted to properly draw the same conclusion about humans. But, with that in mind, if you're struggling with alcohol dependence or simply looking for another reason to quit drinking, this research is worth considering. Now we know that alcohol doesn't just impact the liver and heart, potentially cause cancer and contribute to inflammation, but it can seriously impact your brain and decision-making skills—and those effects can last for months after your last drink.
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Related: 6 Major Things That Happen to Your Body if You Stop Drinking Alcohol
Sources
Chronic ethanol exposure produces sex-dependent impairments in value computations in the striatum. Science Advances. Read More Details
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