Looking for a good excuse to quit—or act least cut down on—alcohol? Assuming the countless, well-documented health risks like liver disease, cancer and heart problems haven't been enough to convince you, maybe new research on how it can impact the mind will.
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.
?SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week?
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.
(Note: The study followed The study followed strict ethical guidelines approved by Johns Hopkins' Animal Care and Use Committee, which require the minimizing of suffering, using as few animals as possible and ensuring the research has scientific merit.)
Related: How Different Types of Alcohol Impact the Liver
After 10+ weeks without alcohol (the equivalent to human sobriety), the rats were given challenging decision-making tasks involving rewards, allowing researchers to monitor their behavior and record brain activity in a part of the brain called the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). This is essential for learning, rewards and decision-making, allowing you to learn from mistakes and modify future behavior accordingly.
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.
As for what they found? More than two months after having been exposed to alcohol, the male rats demonstrated long-lasting changes in brain activity More specifically, they became less flexible in adjusting to change and were more likely to repeat choices, even after getting no reward (meaning they were essentially "stuck" in their habits).
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.
Translation? Chronic alcohol use can seemingly cause someone to struggle with decision-making and problem-solving skills and rely more on habits and less on thoughtful, flexible thinking. This could have serious implications not just for alcohol recovery, but behavior, impulse control, mental health and more.
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.
Related: 'I Went 30 Days Without Alcohol—Here's What Happened'
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.
That doesn't mean they showed no changes at all however; just different. For example, female rats' brains reacted to rewards and losses for a longer time than the males', but they didn’t get stuck in routines or lose mental flexibility like the male rats did.
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.
Related: Does Drinking Alcohol Cause Inflammation? Which is Best?
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.
Oh, and no, the type of alcohol doesn't matter. Since the study used ethanol vapor, these findings are true for any type of alcohol, regardless of how it's packaged. So the alcohol in beer would have the same effects as the alcohol in vodka, tequila or yes, even red wine.
Up Next:
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
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( This Is How Alcohol Really Changes Your Brain—Even Months After You Stop )
Also on site :
- A U-Turn and an Epic Comeback! Who Went Home on 'The Amazing Race 37' Tonight?
- Rio Tinto and AMG Metals & Materials to assess low-carbon aluminium project in India
- Drew Barrymore Sets Hearts Racing With Adam Sandler Reunion Photo