Drinking is harmful to physical and mental health in a variety of ways. It is a major risk factor that increases the risk of liver disease, hypertension, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, as well as depression. It can also cause dementia. Although dementia is known as a disease of the elderly, ‘alcohol dementia’ can develop in young people if excessive drinking continues.
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Main symptom of alcohol dementia, ‘blackout’
Alcoholic dementia is a disease caused by excessive drinking, and occurs as brain cells are repeatedly damaged due to an increase in the concentration of alcohol in the blood due to drinking. Alcohol also interferes with the body’s absorption of vitamins, which can also negatively affect the brain. In fact, according to a study by the Medical University of Vienna, published in the journal ‘Alzheimer’s and Dementi’ in 2020, vitamin B1 deficiency from alcohol consumption is the main cause of iron deposition in the brain, which can lead to cognitive decline. have
A typical symptom of alcoholic dementia is the blackout phenomenon. It is often expressed as ‘the film has been cut off’. Symptoms appear to be that he cannot remember what happened while drinking and how he got home. This blackout phenomenon is a common symptom of excessive drinking, but if repeated, it can damage the brain and lead to dementia.
Personality can change to become violent. This is because the frontal lobe, which controls emotions and impulses in the brain, has been damaged. Alcoholic dementia should be suspected if you are easily angered by alcohol or show violent behavior such as hitting people. In addition, symptoms such as psychomotor retardation, stubbornness, and reduced attention are seen in patients with alcoholic dementia.
If in doubt, stop drinking immediately and seek medical attention.
If alcoholic dementia is suspected, stop drinking immediately and visit a hospital immediately. This is because alcoholic dementia develops quickly. The hospital diagnoses alcoholic dementia by taking a history, physical examination, and neuropsychological examination.
In order to prevent alcoholic dementia, it is important to have appropriate drinking habits. Firstly, excessive drinking must be avoided. Also, it is recommended to rest for at least 3 days after consuming alcohol. This is because the liver, which breaks down alcohol, needs time to recover. When drinking alcohol, be careful not to drink on an empty stomach, and it is good to replenish fluids frequently when drinking.
In the case of alcohol dependent patients, there is a high possibility that they will not be able to stop drinking on their own, so they need hospital treatment and support from those around them. Alcohol dependent patients can receive help from drug treatment to reduce the likelihood of alcohol dependence, and rehabilitation treatment to prevent this from happening again.
