Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

dennis08 · 08-28-2007, 01:53 AM

What exactly are the long term effects of alcohol on the brain? If I have a beer 5 times a week or something will it impair me in any way? I’m not talking about while I’m drinking I mean a day after I’ve had my beer and am sober.

Shamou · 08-28-2007, 02:34 AM

dennis08! If you stick to one beer a day... absolutely nothing bad is going to happen to your brain... and, you should not even feel much of a buzz unless you have not eaten in a long time... drink that beer very fast or are a very small person...

The problem that could arise though is that after one beer a day... you end up with a whole lot more... but, even then, the brain is not the organ that will be most affected but the liver...

Hope this answers your questions...
.

Addict · 08-28-2007, 11:01 AM

I read a study recently that one glass of beer or wine a day is better than neither, although the wine is obviously better.

WilliWibald · 08-28-2007, 12:11 PM

As far as I know even little dosages of alcohol increase your cancer risk (if this includes brain cancer - I don't know - but I guess so).

The Studies that showed advantages in drinking moderate amounts of alcohol were faulty (people who were ex-alcoholics were count as non-drinker and therefore made the abstinent group unhealthier in the mean).

WilliWibald · 08-28-2007, 12:30 PM

Ah, I just remember some long-term effects on my brain (based on my personal experience)

drinking regulary the same amount results in decreasing uplifting emotional effects (like with every drug)
I felt like my ability to feel joy was lowered (even after one beer) for about one week

...but this was highly subjective. Best advice I could give: Experiment and observe the effects on yourself with a journal (of course this doesn't help with effects, that one cannot sense).

Matthew Shea · 08-28-2007, 01:27 PM

For a normal, well adjusted person, one beer a day should have very little effect, besides maybe a little belly fat. I'll probably have 2 - 3 lite beers per week, limiting myself to one or very rarely two in any given day. Some weeks I have none. Either way, there's not enough alcohol to do any damage at that level.

Like Shamou mentioned above, though, be careful if that amount starts to creep up.

Also, alcohol problems are completely relative and there's really no universal, hard and fast definition of what makes an addict. If it affects your life in any measurable way, you should be concerned. If not, don't worry about it but realize that you might not be able to accurately gauge its effects from your first person point of view.

Addict · 08-28-2007, 01:35 PM

Here is that study I was mentioning if anyone is interested:

Study says one beer a day is good for arteries Modern Brewery Age - Find Articles

Apparently, one alcoholic beverage a day increases arterial elasticity (good I guess), but beer seems to elevate blood pressure. So I would say that it will probably have a small or negligible effect on your health.

I realize that you were asking more about the brain, so here is another article:

WonderQuest: Does alcohol kill brain cells?

It concludes that alcohol does not kill brain cells, but it cause a different kind of reversible damage.

Calculusaurus · 08-28-2007, 05:28 PM

Alcohol is so very confusing. It lowers your risk of heart disease, but since I'm not at risk of HD and never plan to be, the only question that I want answered is how does it affect your brain.

I've read plenty of articles saying that moderate drinking is bad for the brain, but not that bad. I've also read an article that linked moderate drinking to an increase in memory retention (huh?). Unfortunately, there are so many bad scientists out there (who draw heavy conclusions from weak correlations -- not cause-effect relations, just correlations) that you can't even trust the headlines.

I'm playing it safe and essentially avoiding all alcohol. It's not very good anyway.

dennis08 · 08-29-2007, 04:30 AM

Alcohol is indeed confusing. When you have a group of people saying no its good for you and a group of people claiming its bad for you then you don’t know who to believe and that doesn’t answer any questions.

Shamou · 08-29-2007, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis08

Alcohol is indeed confusing. When you have a group of people saying no its good for you and a group of people claiming its bad for you then you don’t know who to believe and that doesn’t answer any questions.

dennis! Alcohol is like anything else... it has its good side... (relaxation when taken in moderation and enjoying the good things in life) and it also has its bad sides... like getting addicted and becoming dependent...

However, I personally believe that at sixteen or seventeen... you are a little young to start experimenting with it... it will not hurt if you wait a few more years... and some bad things might happen if you start right now... alcohol does clouds the judgment... and something can be down while under the influence that should not have been done...

So, wait a few years... you have nothing to lose...
.

NotesMaeve · 08-29-2007, 04:53 AM

^ Agreed. I have a very ugly story about being 16 that involves screwdrivers and spaghetti.

ETA: Booze is fun. I like it, but even I don't have the tolerance for every week. I enjoy it as I can.

Calculusaurus · 08-29-2007, 08:02 AM

At 16 your brain is still very tender and much more susceptible to damage (but also susceptible to positive changes to take advantage :P). I've read that around 25 is when your brain stops undergoing major growth-related changes...

dennis08 · 08-30-2007, 05:20 AM

Thanks guys. I am 17 by the way and I hear that 2 calculus.

nvictor · 09-04-2007, 03:55 PM

By the way is anybody here a medical doctor?

Alcohol is bad when abused, I'm not a doctor but I can say so because a certain amount, and my hands are covered with pimples

That's my limit. But I only booze once in a month or two.

Livgivare · 09-04-2007, 06:01 PM

Everything kills brain cells, but brain build up the brain after it if it has got nutrition I guess. I vaugly think I heard that on TV. And yes they did a meta-science study on those studies that clames that Alcohol is good for the body and they cut out teetotallers and ex-drunkards and those who may only drink once a year. So I would say, real moderation on alcohol and stick to what makes you feel good and keep the alcohol out if you get addicted to it.

I never drink, I am a total teetotaller!

Love Leelene

Shamou · 09-04-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livgivare

Everything kills brain cells, but brain build up the brain after it if it has got nutrition I guess.

A great many brain cells, called neurons, die naturally everyday and are never replaced... however, since we are born with one hundred billion neurons we have plenty to last all our life...

The scientist are now working on "Stem cell" research which could be a way of replacing essential neurons that have been destroyed by diseases, trauma or CVA... however it will probably be close to ten years before the process can be used on humans...
.

NotesMaeve · 09-04-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamou

The scientist are now working on "Stem cell" research which could be a way of replacing essential neurons that have been destroyed by diseases, trauma or CVA... however it will probably be close to ten years before the process can be used on humans...
.

Please please please please please please please everyone support stem cell research for this reason, people. There's fantastic evidence this may indeed slow or STOP the progression of MS.

Livgivare · 09-04-2007, 07:36 PM

I am pro stem cell reserach. Hehe, I even see it as a right as a Swede to. Because we are good at medical reserch and are liberal. Hehe...And the fact that it could be the cure for some of the illness my father has got which is a totally other story.

Love Leelene

Shamou · 09-04-2007, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotesMaeve

Please please please please please please please everyone support stem cell research for this reason, people. There's fantastic evidence this may indeed slow or STOP the progression of MS.

Stem cell therapies would be greatest medical breakthrough since antibiotics...

.

NotesMaeve · 09-04-2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamou

Stem cell therapies would be greatest medical breakthrough since antibiotics...

.

Yes, it will be. And the sooner we get people behind this, the sooner we can cure some of these awful diseases.

Matthew Shea · 09-04-2007, 08:28 PM

Stem cell research has unfortunately been tainted by the abortion issue, though. As long as people think dead fetuses will be used for stem cell harvesting, there will be a lot of push back from the conservative types. Don't get me wrong, I think stem cell research is a good thing overall and potentially very valuable medically, but, in order to get anywhere, the abortion issue needs to be dealt with. They need to get rid of that image.

Andypants · 09-07-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calculusaurus

Alcohol is so very confusing. It lowers your risk of heart disease, but since I'm not at risk of HD and never plan to be, the only question that I want answered is how does it affect your brain.

Ahahaha.
I don't plan on getting hit by a truck but it might happen.

The David · 09-07-2007, 10:30 PM

Read the book 'Everything is bad for you'. You'll find out that both sides of the issue are correct. Alcohol is bad for you...because it's included in 'everything'.

08-28-2007, 01:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
dennis08 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 184	Alcohol and the brain. What exactly are the long term effects of alcohol on the brain? If I have a beer 5 times a week or something will it impair me in any way? I’m not talking about while I’m drinking I mean a day after I’ve had my beer and am sober.

08-28-2007, 12:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
WilliWibald Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 102	Ah, I just remember some long-term effects on my brain (based on my personal experience) drinking regulary the same amount results in decreasing uplifting emotional effects (like with every drug) I felt like my ability to feel joy was lowered (even after one beer) for about one week ...but this was highly subjective. Best advice I could give: Experiment and observe the effects on yourself with a journal (of course this doesn't help with effects, that one cannot sense).

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08-28-2007, 02:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Shamou Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,811	dennis08! If you stick to one beer a day... absolutely nothing bad is going to happen to your brain... and, you should not even feel much of a buzz unless you have not eaten in a long time... drink that beer very fast or are a very small person... The problem that could arise though is that after one beer a day... you end up with a whole lot more... but, even then, the brain is not the organ that will be most affected but the liver... Hope this answers your questions... .

08-28-2007, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Addict Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 338	I read a study recently that one glass of beer or wine a day is better than neither, although the wine is obviously better.

08-28-2007, 12:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
WilliWibald Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 102	As far as I know even little dosages of alcohol increase your cancer risk (if this includes brain cancer - I don't know - but I guess so). The Studies that showed advantages in drinking moderate amounts of alcohol were faulty (people who were ex-alcoholics were count as non-drinker and therefore made the abstinent group unhealthier in the mean).

08-28-2007, 01:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Matthew Shea Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Posts: 772	For a normal, well adjusted person, one beer a day should have very little effect, besides maybe a little belly fat. I'll probably have 2 - 3 lite beers per week, limiting myself to one or very rarely two in any given day. Some weeks I have none. Either way, there's not enough alcohol to do any damage at that level. Like Shamou mentioned above, though, be careful if that amount starts to creep up. Also, alcohol problems are completely relative and there's really no universal, hard and fast definition of what makes an addict. If it affects your life in any measurable way, you should be concerned. If not, don't worry about it but realize that you might not be able to accurately gauge its effects from your first person point of view.

08-28-2007, 01:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Addict Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 338	Here is that study I was mentioning if anyone is interested: Study says one beer a day is good for arteries Modern Brewery Age - Find Articles Apparently, one alcoholic beverage a day increases arterial elasticity (good I guess), but beer seems to elevate blood pressure. So I would say that it will probably have a small or negligible effect on your health. I realize that you were asking more about the brain, so here is another article: WonderQuest: Does alcohol kill brain cells? It concludes that alcohol does not kill brain cells, but it cause a different kind of reversible damage.

08-28-2007, 05:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Calculusaurus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 379	Alcohol is so very confusing. It lowers your risk of heart disease, but since I'm not at risk of HD and never plan to be, the only question that I want answered is how does it affect your brain. I've read plenty of articles saying that moderate drinking is bad for the brain, but not that bad. I've also read an article that linked moderate drinking to an increase in memory retention (huh?). Unfortunately, there are so many bad scientists out there (who draw heavy conclusions from weak correlations -- not cause-effect relations, just correlations) that you can't even trust the headlines. I'm playing it safe and essentially avoiding all alcohol. It's not very good anyway.

08-29-2007, 04:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
dennis08 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 184	Alcohol is indeed confusing. When you have a group of people saying no its good for you and a group of people claiming its bad for you then you don’t know who to believe and that doesn’t answer any questions.

08-29-2007, 04:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
NotesMaeve Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 937	^ Agreed. I have a very ugly story about being 16 that involves screwdrivers and spaghetti. ETA: Booze is fun. I like it, but even I don't have the tolerance for every week. I enjoy it as I can.

08-29-2007, 08:02 AM	#12 (permalink)
Calculusaurus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 379	At 16 your brain is still very tender and much more susceptible to damage (but also susceptible to positive changes to take advantage :P). I've read that around 25 is when your brain stops undergoing major growth-related changes...

08-30-2007, 05:20 AM	#13 (permalink)
dennis08 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 184	Thanks guys. I am 17 by the way and I hear that 2 calculus.

09-04-2007, 03:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
nvictor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 214	By the way is anybody here a medical doctor? Alcohol is bad when abused, I'm not a doctor but I can say so because a certain amount, and my hands are covered with pimples That's my limit. But I only booze once in a month or two.

09-04-2007, 06:01 PM	#15 (permalink)
Livgivare Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sundsvall Sweden Europe Posts: 208	Everything kills brain cells, but brain build up the brain after it if it has got nutrition I guess. I vaugly think I heard that on TV. And yes they did a meta-science study on those studies that clames that Alcohol is good for the body and they cut out teetotallers and ex-drunkards and those who may only drink once a year. So I would say, real moderation on alcohol and stick to what makes you feel good and keep the alcohol out if you get addicted to it. I never drink, I am a total teetotaller! Love Leelene

09-04-2007, 07:36 PM	#18 (permalink)
Livgivare Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sundsvall Sweden Europe Posts: 208	I am pro stem cell reserach. Hehe, I even see it as a right as a Swede to. Because we are good at medical reserch and are liberal. Hehe...And the fact that it could be the cure for some of the illness my father has got which is a totally other story. Love Leelene

09-04-2007, 08:28 PM	#21 (permalink)
Matthew Shea Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Posts: 772	Stem cell research has unfortunately been tainted by the abortion issue, though. As long as people think dead fetuses will be used for stem cell harvesting, there will be a lot of push back from the conservative types. Don't get me wrong, I think stem cell research is a good thing overall and potentially very valuable medically, but, in order to get anywhere, the abortion issue needs to be dealt with. They need to get rid of that image.

09-07-2007, 10:30 PM	#23 (permalink)
The David Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 1,155	Read the book 'Everything is bad for you'. You'll find out that both sides of the issue are correct. Alcohol is bad for you...because it's included in 'everything'.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums