Relative to thinking, for example, how many more brain cells are killled by drinking alcohol?

Question

Answers from those with a Medecine and/or Science backround are preferred.

Answer 1

Thinking does not kill brain cells. On the contrary, some studies have suggested that people who do mental excercises or regularly engage in activities that involve concentration, analysis, calculations, or other "intellectual activities" have a lower risk of dementia or tend to develop memory problems later than those who do not. Studies have also suggested that regular mental exercises can help improve memory function.

Alcohol does kill brain cells, and both acute and chronic use can affect brain cells. In adults the cells most succeptible to alcohol are the Purkinje cells in the cerebellum (a part of your brain that controls balance and coordination). Studies have shown that even moderate alcohol, if it's daily, over the years can can cause death of cerebellar cells. Alcohol also inhibits the growth and development of brain cells, so when a pregnant women uses alcohol the effect can be devastating on the baby. In developing brains (i.e. a fetus during pregnancy), exposure to alcohol can lead to mental retardation, learning problems, memory problems, visual problems and/or hearing problems.

Answer 2

This may depend on the amounts of alcohol being consumed. It is hard to estimate how many cells are being destroyed as it is an indivual and varying amount.

The early signs are short term memory loss ( Korsakoff Syndrome) and may be detected by asking someone in a general conversation to jelp you remember a name address and phone number or one of those items) After about 5 minutes ask for th information to be given back. Often in advanced Korsakoffs the person will not be able to remember ot at the best only be able to supply a very sketchy ouline of the details.
They often confabulate, that is they will make up the missing bits to fill in the gaps so to speak.
Blackouts are another indication, How often have you heard I can't remember a thing after last night? Not good This is an indication of alcohol poisoning and loss of brain cells affecting short term memory. Teenagers often say this for effect without realising that they are in damage control.

We used to make jokes about this question at med school.

Q have you had any blackout incidents?
A: No not that I can remember

result definite alcoholic!

Answer 3

I don't know for sure but I do know that drinking depletes serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain because it is a depressant and even though you get the initial buzz and drunkenness overall it has a negative effect on your emotional well-being (more or less depending on the person). I know that smoking weed increases the amount of dopamine giving you the high feeling (im not sure about its effects on serotonin) but I have to imagine that this would be better for you than the effects you get while drinking...