Alcohol's effect on the brain.
For my research paper I chose to explore the effect that long term alcohol abuse has on the brain. The amount of alcohol that alcoholics consume puts them at an increased risk for several diseases and disorders. The cerebellum and the frontal lobe are the parts of the brain that are most vulnerable to the consequences of alcohol, especially the frontal lobe.
The frontal lobe is important for the control of movement, planning, and attention. In my research I found that there is a significantly lowered neuron density in the frontal cortex of alcoholics. In turn, this can lead to the development of Koraskoff’s syndrome. In addition, the damage to the frontal lobes can also cause a decrease in the ability to recognize facial expressions, emotions, and normal processing of social information. Furthermore, this damage can also be the source of personality differences. In many alcoholics, there is an increase in impulsivity, which increases aggression and a lack of concern for consequences of behavior.
The cerebellum is also severely affected by alcohol. This part of the brain is essential for proper motor function. The cerebellum contains nearly half of the brains neurons. However, they are so small that it only makes up ten percent of the brain. It is common in alcoholics to see an atrophy of the cerebellum as well as a significant reduction in the volume of white matter in the vermis.
In addition to the effects on the brain, I also did research on how the body is affected. For several days and up to a week after consuming alcohol, the body is extremely dehydrated due to a large imbalance of electrolytes. Also, the body stores alcohol in the same way it stores fat. As a result, this can lead to an increased body fat percentage. This also causes several diseases of the body including, fatty liver, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and gout.
All in all, alcohol has terrible consequences for those who misuse it.
The frontal lobe is important for the control of movement, planning, and attention. In my research I found that there is a significantly lowered neuron density in the frontal cortex of alcoholics. In turn, this can lead to the development of Koraskoff’s syndrome. In addition, the damage to the frontal lobes can also cause a decrease in the ability to recognize facial expressions, emotions, and normal processing of social information. Furthermore, this damage can also be the source of personality differences. In many alcoholics, there is an increase in impulsivity, which increases aggression and a lack of concern for consequences of behavior.
The cerebellum is also severely affected by alcohol. This part of the brain is essential for proper motor function. The cerebellum contains nearly half of the brains neurons. However, they are so small that it only makes up ten percent of the brain. It is common in alcoholics to see an atrophy of the cerebellum as well as a significant reduction in the volume of white matter in the vermis.
In addition to the effects on the brain, I also did research on how the body is affected. For several days and up to a week after consuming alcohol, the body is extremely dehydrated due to a large imbalance of electrolytes. Also, the body stores alcohol in the same way it stores fat. As a result, this can lead to an increased body fat percentage. This also causes several diseases of the body including, fatty liver, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and gout.
All in all, alcohol has terrible consequences for those who misuse it.