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Black Outs This term refers to a period of memory loss where the person involved may have some fragmented recall of an event at a later date but generally from some point there memory, for the rest of the evening for example, is blank. A heavy drinking session often results in short-term memory loss for the individual although this does not imply a lack of consciousness at the time. Loss of short-term memory is associated with the destruction of vitamin B by alcohol, vitamin B is essential for the proper functioning of the brain and the peripheral nervous system. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is especially important for memory functioning. Small amounts of alcohol inhibit glutamate, an excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter, which can also lead to black outs.
Memory Problems With
continued absence of Vitamins and other essential nutrients the memory can
deteriorate, some people find that they still suffer with memory problems even
when they are not drunk and some have continuing problems even if they have
stopped drinking altogether. Also the brain appears to be directly damaged by
alcohol as it crosses the blood / brain barrier, scans
taken over several years from people who are still drinking reveal abnormal,
premature brain shrinkage which has been associated with memory impairment.
These are not the only ways alcohol can affect memory though, when withdrawing
levels of glutamate increase leading to glutamate over activity which is linked
to cell death and associated strokes, seizures and memory loss. Alcohol can
cause haemorrhages and smaller lesions to appear on the brain which can also
lead to cell death having similar effects to the over activity caused by increased
glutamate.
Amnesia Longer term memory loss or amnesia can happen in a similar way to the mechanisms causing memory problems as described above. Amnesia can be temporary or permanent and can mean the loss of either short- or long-term memory. Alcohol related accidents leading to head injuries and anoxia can also lead to Amnesia.
Wernickes
Encephalopathy Wernickes is linked to prolonged thiamine deficiency and symptoms include memory impairment, confusion, delirium, confabulation, difficulty in walking, visual disturbances, muscle weakness, tremor and disorientation. These symptoms are reminiscent of the symptoms of alcoholic intoxication, explaining why there is sometimes a delay in diagnosing this disorder despite the fact it can be easily reversed by thiamine replacement. It can lead to Delirium Tremens and if left undiagnosed or untreated may progress to Korsakoff’s Psychosis.
Korsakoff's Psychosis The symptoms of this disorder are similar to those seen in Wernickes Encephalopathy, they will have severe (sometimes debilitating) amnesia which like the condition is incurable / irreversible. The symptoms of KS are due to the alcohol induced damage to the brain through malnourishment, premature cell death and associated brain shrinking, deterioration in brain cell function and nerve fibre damage.
For more information on WE or KS Click here
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