Needless to say, we are in no way endorsing alcohol use. Alcohol damages almost all the vital organs of our body. But just to put this urban legend aside, alcohol has neither killed nor does it kill neurons. Rather, alcohol affects the neuronal connections of the cerebellum, the area on which learning and motor coordination depend. But, as can be seen in the autopsies, the brains of the abstainers and those addicted to the bottle have the same number of neurons. It is their quality, not quantity, that suffers from drunkenness.
Where does this myth come from?
The myth that alcohol kills brain cells dates back to ancient times and, above all, is related to the passage of the 18th Amendment in the United States , when the Temperance movement began to spread the rumor that the consumption of alcohol killed our precious neurons.
Due to the slowness of movement, the difficulty in speaking, and simply the clumsiness of drunks, this rumor was widely accepted as fact and spread like wildfire. In fact, it was not until 1993, exactly 60 years after the repeal of the Prohibition Law, that science was finally able to conclude without any doubt that alcohol did not kill neurons. The researchers basically compared the neurons of alcoholics with non-drinkers and found no notable differences.
According to José Manuel Moltó, member of the Spanish Neurology Society (SEN), ‘for decades neuroscientists thought that the number of neurons stabilized after prenatal and postnatal development and that a slow decline was beginning that some things such as toxins could exacerbate. In the 1960s, however, we discovered that new neurons are formed in the brain throughout adult life from stem cells. These new neurons are in specific locations and do not replace those that may be lost as a result of an accident or neurodegenerative disease . However, they are supposed to be essential for processes such as memory. ‘
When alcohol reaches the brain, it deactivates function by damaging the connective tissue at the end of neurons. This disrupts communication between neurons and makes it more difficult for an individual to concentrate or complete minor tasks. However, our bodies are incredibly resilient and for the most part ‘forgiving’ the works of nature. This alcohol-induced cellular riot causes minor damage and definitely does not result in neuron death.
Now, although alcohol does not kill neurons, because to kill any type of cell, very high concentrations of alcohol are needed – close to 100% – and we start to get drunk from a blood level of 0.1%, yes kills millions of people every year. Hence, we ask that this article not be viewed as an excuse to drink excessively. Like everything in life, the important thing is moderation.
Alcohol consumption alters the structure and function of neurons in an area of the brain called the dorsomedial striatum, a region of the brain that drives goal-directed behaviors, and alcohol results in “persistent alterations in neuronal morphology” in this area. zone.
Modify the structure of neurons
Studies have determined that alcohol changes the physical structure of medium spiny neurons, the main type of cell in the striatum. These neurons can facilitate or inhibit the performance of specific behaviors due to one of the two types of dopamine receptor: D1 or D2. Regular consumption of large amounts of alcohol acts on D1 neurons, making them much more excitable and therefore firing with less stimulation.
