Alcohol Consumption Can Trigger Alterations In The Architecture And Operation Of The Growing Brain

Alcohol consumption can trigger alterations in the structure and function of the growing brain, which continues to develop into an individual's mid 20s, and it might have repercussions reaching far beyond teenage years.

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In adolescence, brain growth is characterized by remarkable changes to the brain's architecture, neural connections ("electrical wiring"), and physiology. These transformations in the brain disturb everything from emerging sexuality to emotionality and judgment.

Not all parts of the adolescent brain mature at the exact same time, which may put a juvenile at a disadvantage in certain situations. The limbic regions of the brain develop sooner than the frontal lobes.

How Alcohol Alters the Brain
Alcohol alters an adolescent's brain growth in numerous ways. The consequences of adolescent alcohol consumption on specific brain functions are discussed below.
Alcohol is a central nervous system sedative drug. Alcohol can seem to be a stimulant because, before anything else, it depresses the portion of the human brain that manages inhibitions.

CORTEX-- Alcohol reduces the cerebral cortex as it processes details from a person's senses.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-- When an individual thinks about something he wants his body to do, the central nervous system-- the brain and the spinal cord-- sends out a signal to that portion of the physical body. Alcohol hinders the central nervous system, making the person think, speak, and move slower.

FRONTAL LOBES -- The human brain's frontal lobes are necessary for organizing, creating concepts, decision making, and employing self-discipline.

A person may find it difficult to control his or her feelings and urges when alcohol affects the frontal lobes of the brain. The person may act without thinking or may even get violent. Consuming alcohol over a long period of time can injure the frontal lobes permanently.

HIPPOCAMPUS-- The hippocampus is the portion of the human brain in which memories are created.
When alcohol gets to the hippocampus, an individual might have trouble remembering a thing he or she just learned, such as a name or a telephone number. This can happen after just a couple of alcoholic beverages.
Drinking a lot of alcohol rapidly can cause a blackout-- not being able to recollect whole incidents, such as what she or he did last night.
An individual may find it difficult to learn and to hold on to knowledge if alcohol harms the hippocampus.

CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is essential for coordination, thoughts, and focus. A person may have difficulty with these abilities when alcohol goes into the cerebellum. After consuming alcohol, an individual's hands might be so unsteady that they cannot touch or grab things properly, and they may fail to keep their equilibrium and tumble.

HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a little part of the brain that does an incredible number of the body's housekeeping tasks. Alcohol upsets the operation of the hypothalamus. After a person consumes alcohol, blood pressure, appetite, thirst, and the need to urinate increase while body temperature and heart rate decline.

Alcohol actually cools down the physical body. Drinking alcoholism of alcohol outdoors in cold weather conditions can cause a person's physical body temperature to fall below normal.

A person may have difficulty with these skills when alcohol goes into the cerebellum. After drinking alcohol, an individual's hands might be so shaky that they cannot touch or grab things normally, and they may fail to keep their balance and fall.

After an individual alcoholic beverages alcohol, blood pressure, hunger, being thirsty, and the desire to urinate increase while physical body temperature and heart rate decline.

Alcohol actually cools down the body. Consuming a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can trigger a person's body temperature to fall below normal.

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