The brain cells I'm killing with alcohol are just the weak ones right?

Answer 1

your not pouring it in your head are you? who cares lets get drunk

Answer 2

Timinator:

Sorry to break it to you, but the cells the alcohol kills are the "most metabolic" cells - those brain cells that you are using the most.

Others have said that those cells might be your weak ones, but that is another question entirely.

Alcohol permeates practically every tissue equally, those cells doing the most work need the most supplies and so the blood vessels feeding them dilate and feed them more.

Where the real damage comes from is the depletion of a cells energy stores - with enough alcohol, you begin to screw up Krebs cycle (the TriCyclic Acid cycle) and start damaging neurons quickly.

If you destroy enough cells (think about this, ecstacy and metamphetamine users) at one time, you get scarring in the brain and if you could ever regenerate new neurons - some evidence that you can - the new axons and dendrites will not be able to cross these fibrotic scars. They are walls to cellular growth.

The brain can only fix a little bit at a time - if you drink to drunkeness, to black-outs, or for long amounts of time, you go well beyond the brain's repair ability and you lose cells.

Too bad about your brain cells - but you have other assets, right?

Good luck

Answer 3

Actually you may be surprised but the fact is that usually brain cells are not killed. For 16 years, Roberta J. Pentney, professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University at Buffalo, has studied chronic alcohol abuse and brain function. She concludes that alcohol does not kill brain cells but rather damages dendrites--the branched ends of nerve cells that bring messages into the cell.

Alcohol surely affects the brain, as we all know, causing slurred speech, clumsiness, slow reflexes, and a loss of inhibition. But alcohol doesn't destroy the brain cells to cause these problems.

Rather, alcohol dilates the channels in the cellular structure that regulates the flow of calcium. More calcium than normal flows into the cells and stimulates increased activity. Somehow this abnormal "turning on" of activity causes a loss of the end segments but does not kill the whole cell. Losing the end segments, however, means losing incoming messages, which disrupts brain function.

Answer 4

I know this isn't a answer; but your question reminds me of a "Cheers" episode from years back.

And the scene went like this ....

In one episode of "Cheers", Cliff is seated at the bar describing the Buffalo Theory to his buddy Norm. Here it is, for your enjoyment:
"Well, you see Norm, it's like this...
A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the heard is hunted, it is the lowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and heard of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.
In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.
And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers."

Answer 5

No, actually they are the most used ones. The weak ones tend to be in places where the alcohol doesn't reach. That's why the longer one drinks, the more apparent the brain damage is.

Answer 6

Not at all. There are no "weak" or "strong" brain cells. Alcohol does not care which one it kills. Every brain cell you lose decreases your lifespan since they are the only cells that do not regrow themselves!

Answer 7

The human ideas can perform in easy terms as rapid because of the fact the slowest ideas cells during which the electrical powered alerts pass. intake of beer and wine etc., helps get rid of the weaker cells, continuously making the ideas a swifter and extra effective gadget :-)

Answer 8

As long as you don't drink so much you get brain damaged you will be ok. Brain cells naturally replace themselves... The urban myth that once a brain cell dies it is never replaced is not true.

It takes about 90 days for every cell in your body to die and be replaced with a new cell.

Answer 9

no it kill all brain cells but it also kills your liver the same with smoking and outer street drugs but alcohol is the only thing that kills the liver my suggestion is to quit and get help if needed but it all really up to you no one can force you to try AA

Answer 10

Sure.....

Survival of the fittest right?

I am not sure that applies to brain cells and alcohol consumption.

Answer 11

i think so.
ive done my fair share of alcohol abuse. and i believe that im still intelligent.
for the most part, and on most days.
but its only what i think that matters right?
so i think you think that it is just the weak ones :)