Alzheimer’s Disease Among Alcoholics

There are a lot of similarities between Alzheimer’s disease and alcoholic dementia. Alzheimer’s disease or AD is a disorder associated with the brain which is degenerative in nature. Characteristics of this disease include memory loss, significant changes in cognitive abilities and a reduction in the life span.

AD is more prevalent among the older people. Millions of people are afflicted with this condition all over the world. Alcohol is one of the factors which aid in the development and progression of this disease. A lot of research and studies are being made to find out ways and means of effectively preventing Alzheimer’s disease. As of now there is no significant treatment method or cure available for this disease.

Consumption of alcohol excessively over a long period of time is found to be one initiating and aiding the progression of this deadly disease. As we have seen earlier, alcoholism leads to cognitive problems like dementia, certain disorders of the brain and changes in the chemistry of the brain, etc. As these symptoms are also part of the Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol is suspected to aid in the development of this disease.

The biggest hurdle in the analysis and study of the possible effects of alcohol in Alzheimer’s disease is the similarities of the symptoms between alcoholic dementia and AD. But research in this field is going on extensively because if found to be one of the causes, alcoholism is a preventable factor and knowing about the effects of alcoholism on the progression of AD may also give us an idea of the possible causes of AD.

Heavy consumption of alcohol results in the shrinking of brain tissues thereby resulting in neurological changes which are degenerative in nature and a reduction in cognitive ability especially with aging. One important positive factor could be that in contrast to AD related to aging, AD due to alcoholism could be reversible.

Keeping away from alcohol for a considerable time has shown a marked decrease in atrophy diseases. Research has also proven that there was no difference in the number of neurons or the brain cells between alcoholics and control subjects who were matched to that age. Loss was mainly in the white matter of the brain which consists of the fibres of the nerve connecting the neurons.

As the number of neurons remains the same, researchers conclude that the condition can be reversed by keeping away from alcohol whereby there is possible re establishment of the connection between the neurons. Studies have shown that certain brain cells which support the neurons are damaged due to excessive alcoholism which can be restored easily.