My mum's under the impression that drinking kills brain cells, I believe this too, but I believe whatever you lose, you can grow back? I mean why not, I don't know how correct I am, please do correct me if I'm wrong for anything I say, thus why I'm doing this; but I want to know if some really smart people in history have been alcoholics, or drink a lot, if you can... it's not compulsuary, but can find refrences or 'sources' as the term is used on this site. Thanks.
2007-10-04 03:00:09 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
this is definately no...I asked this question to a prof recently because I was curious...I had an actual journal article...but I really cant be bothered to dig it up...here's some other sources. Binge drinking is what you have to be concerned about, but if you're talking about having a couple beer often, the only real concern you should have is "beer belly".
It's cool to believe that you can regrow brain cells...but this doesn't happen, sorry. If we could regrow all brain cells, would we still have alzheimers and dimentia?
If you're drinking to the point of blacking out...you may end up doing stupid irreversable damage to your live or reputation...drinking, like drugs, exercise or food, all require moderation...
2007-10-04 03:14:22 · answer #1 · answered by miss_j 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First, the brain has a LOT of neurons. Binge drinking does kill neurons, but it takes a lot of binge drinking to dramatically impair brain function. So, if someone is very gifted and functions at a high level, it may take years before their alcoholism ruins their abilities.
Second, brain cells can regenerate. For many years, it has been accepted as fact that they cannot. And in many cases, this is true...for example, a severed spinal cord cannot regrow the severed connection. But brains are very complex, and are able to "wire around" damaged areas in many cases. So, there may be a lot of this "wiring around" problems within the alcoholic brain before it is finally overwhelmed by the damage.
2007-10-04 10:31:28 · answer #2 · answered by El Jefe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While it is true that the body can regenerate tissue, heal and mend broken bones and grow hair. The brain is different in that once you lose your brain cells, they cant grow back. But the geniuses thruout history have been so smart and intellectual that the alcohol they consumed wasn't enough to cause them to get stupid. Just make bad decisions.
2007-10-04 10:10:01 · answer #3 · answered by ron197192064 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes brain cells die with alcohol consumption. That is why alcoholic's develop Korsakoff's syndrome. Check that out on the web.
I have been into rehab a couple times and I have seen what alcohol consumption can do to peoples brains. It is not good. Not recoverable either.
Have you heard of acetaldehyde, this is what alcohol is converted into in our bodies, then this is turned into acetate. Problem with heavy drinking is our bodies can turn and become like alcoholics where we process alcohol twice as quick into acetaldehyde and then twice as slow into acetate for the body to sweat and pee out.
Therefore rather than processing the alcohol normally this concentrated amount of acetaldehyde goes to our brain and is a poison. This develops problems. Check it out.
No amount of alcohol/poison can be good for the brain!
Doesn't stop us though does it!
2007-10-04 18:07:47 · answer #4 · answered by kiwi chick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neurons in your brain (unlike other parts of your body) do not typically regenerate. There is some speculation that in certain parts of the brain (e.g., the hippocampus), this general rule may not hold true.
Generally speaking, however, brain cells do not "grow back".
2007-10-04 10:08:04 · answer #5 · answered by michele 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Edgar Allan Poe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia was alcoholic. Yes he was smart, but very sick minded as a result of drinking too much alcohol and he was very unhappy.
2007-10-04 10:16:37 · answer #6 · answered by sonata14 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always thought that marijuana kills your brain cells and alcohol kills your liver.
Some of the most brilliant and creative minds in history were drug and alcohol abusers...keep that in mind.
2007-10-04 10:19:38 · answer #7 · answered by Isis 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think that if you consentrat on thing you want to remember then you will remember it and when you get drunk and you do thing it might stay in a certain part of your memory but i honestly dont know let me know when you find out the answer to this question
2007-10-04 10:22:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋