The Institute of Alcohol Studies has released a new video in its Explained series, shedding light on how alcohol impacts the brain at various life stages. Titled “Alcohol and the Brain,” the video explains how alcohol, being a neurotoxin, can cross the blood-brain barrier easily, affecting key areas such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. It highlights the dual nature of alcohol’s effects, from immediate impairments in motor skills, speech, and reaction times to long-term consequences like brain shrinkage and memory decline. The film explores these effects across age groups, from foetuses and adolescents to adults and the elderly, underscoring the progressive risk that alcohol presents to brain health over time.

Dr. Anya Topiwala, Senior Clinical Researcher at the University of Oxford and an expert in brain imaging studies on alcohol harm, provides insights on how alcohol contributes to neurological risks. In particular, she discusses the heightened vulnerability of the adolescent brain, which remains in development into the late twenties, making young people especially susceptible to risky behaviors and potential long-term cognitive harm. For older adults, she notes that alcohol amplifies risks for dementia, stroke, and falls due to both physiological changes and interactions with medications. The video emphasizes that while some harm from alcohol exposure is reversible, severe outcomes, such as foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and brain injuries from traumatic incidents, can lead to irreversible consequences.

This latest release complements previous videos in the Institute’s Explained series, covering the alcohol industry’s influence, pricing, cardiovascular effects, and cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption. Each video contributes to a broader understanding of alcohol-related harm, advocating for comprehensive measures to limit alcohol’s availability, affordability, and acceptability.

Find more from IAS (UK, November 2024)