The Biological Effect of Alcohol on the Brain - Essay Example

1. Briefly discuss the biological effect of alcohol on the brain; include in your answer the biological effects of intoxication. (10 points) A person likely to establish alcoholism that can result in brain and behavioural damage can be linked with his or her demographics, life style, drinking habits and family history. In the twin and adoption studies conducted by Matt McGue (1999), he suggested that genetics plays a very vital role in increasing the alcoholism risk, especially in men. This can be one reason for Jim as because of his father he was likely to exhibit this habit. Marlene Oscar & Ksenija Marinkovic (2003) found that alcohol consumption had a very unswerving effect on the entire brain. Brain is known to be one of the major target areas of alcohol. The most prominent areas likely to get damaged are cerebral cortex and areas such as limbic system, hypothalamus, thalamus and basal forebrain. These areas are responsible for feeling and expressing your emotions, releasing hormones in stress conditions, for communication inside the brain and for the learning and memory purposes. Brain cells that are neurons use chemicals named neurotransmitters and these are responsible for communication in brain. Alcohol can cause a change in the activities of neurotransmitters and an imbalance takes place in their actions which inturn will result in seizures, sedation, depression, agitation and other disorders related to mood and behaviour. In 2003, Aaron M. White found that alcohol interferes with the brain ability to make new long term memories and for the ability to keep the fresh information active for limited period of time. Alcohol consumption in this case leads to memory impairment and as a consequence partial or complete blackouts occur. The end result will be periods of memory loss while drinking. 2. Describe the role of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) in the brain and why vitamin B1 is commonly prescribed in alcohol misuse. (5 points) Martin, Singleton & Hiller (2003) described Thiamine, also termed as Vitamin B1 to be one of the essential nutrients required by tissues of the body including brain. The enzymes that use thiamine need to function effectively or otherwise they will result affecting the neurotransmitters in the brain. The brain requires thiamine for its nerve cells (neurons); other cells in the nervous system also rely on thiamine. Thiamine deficiency makes the work of these enzymes slow considerably. As they are harmful for the brain cells, the most severe outcome can be in the form of brain damage. In 2008, Harrigan, Maguire & Laszlo Boros suggested that alcohol consuming patients are mostly found to report very low level of thiamine in their blood which mostly results in neuro-degeneration. This degeneration is linked with the brain area called cerebellum. Cerebellum is directly connected with alcohol addiction as alcohol makes a direct impact on it. But thiamine deficiency is found to place much more impact on cerebellum than alcohol can. Continuous alcohol consumption cause thiamine deficiency in an individual and for this reason Vitamin B1 is commonly prescribed in alcohol misuse to remove this deficiency. 3. Briefly outline the biological effects of alcohol withdrawal and why diazepam is useful for treating alcohol withdrawal; include in your answer the biological reasons why seizures may occur in alcohol withdrawal. (10 points) In 2006 Dr. Ertuğrul EŞEL suggested that when the consumption of alcohol is abbreviated or it comes to an end, the person feels some imbalances in his/ her behaviour which can be taken as alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal takes place as a syndrome that has its grounds in some changes at brain level. This change is related to the brain cells that are neurotransmitter, the neuropeptide and also to the hormonal systems. In a study Karl-Ju¨rgen Ba¨ r, Boettger, Neubauer, Grotelu¨schen, Jochum, Vico Baier, Sauer & Voss (2006) found that the alcohol withdrawal syndrome leads to visible changes as like hypertension , increase in body sweat rate , nausea , anxiety, vomiting, high cardiac output and tachycardia. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome may in its severe form develop seizures. This withdrawal is also capable of causing cardiac death. According to Department of Surgical Education, Orlando (2009) seizures may result in alcohol withdrawal due to termination of alcohol intake. Benzodiazepines play a very vital role in alcohol withdrawal treatment. Diazepam is one of the benzodiazepines used especially in treating a patient. Diazepam is known to be ideal for the control of seizures. 4. Briefly discuss the pathophysiology of Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s dementia and preventative measures that Jim may take to reduce this risk. (10 points) Martin, Singleton & Hiller (2003) suggested that Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is relatively based on a smaller time period. On the other hand Korsakoff’s dementia is very severe and takes longer duration to form its basis. According to Boniol, Boyd, Koreth & Burton (2007), Wernicke’s encephalopathy is an acute symptom which results from thiamine deficiency. Wernicke’s encephalopathy can have devastating effect but it is reversible with on time treatment and by proper supplementation of thiamine. Wernicke’s encephalopathy can cause confusion in mind, paralyses of the nerves that are responsible for the movement of eyes and can impair the ability which helps the person’s body movements to coordinate. Wernicke’s encephalopathy if remains untreated can progress to Korsakoff’s dementia which in turn results damaging the brain and sometimes can even cause neuronal death. Some abnormalities in the behaviour and weakening of the memory are the major characteristics of Korsakoff’s dementia. The patients suffering through Korsakoff’s syndrome face problem recalling the old stuff and on the same time it becomes difficult for them to acquire new information. According to Lieber (2003) alcohol consumption place a huge impact on the drinkers health in terms of his/her diet. Especially the cause of both the Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s dementia is the deficiency of thiamine i.e. Vitamin B1; so to prevent oneself from the risk of this disease a person is required to take a recommended amount of carbohydrates , proteins , fats , vitamins which include A, C and especially B and minerals like iron and calcium. A proper balance diet can help an individual to reduce the dangers of Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. Bessonneau, Clément & Thomas (2010) in their study found that even inhaling and exposure to alcohol in different forms can lead to similar effects as are faced through drinking of alcohol for longer periods. Alcohol consumption should be restricted to a certain volume so that the appalling drinking habits won’t be able to make its pathway through us. REFERENCE LIST Matt McGue (1999). The Behavioural Genetics of Alcoholism. Current Directions in Psychological Science, Vol. 8, No. 4, pg. 109-11. Retrieved 08 October 2010 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20182577 Marlene Oscar–Berman & Ksenija Marinkovic (2003). Alcoholism and the Brain: An Overview. Alcoholic Brain Disease Vol. 27, No. 2, pg. 125-133. Retrieved on 9 October 2010 from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-2/125-133.htm Aaron M. White (2003). What Happened? Alcohol, Memory Blackouts, and the Brain. Alcoholic Brain Disease Vol. 27, No. 2, pg. 186-196. Retrieved on 9 October 2010 from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-2/186-196.htm Peter R. Martin, Charles K. Singleton, and Susanne Hiller–Sturmhöfel, (2003). The Role of Thiamine Deficiency in Alcoholic Brain Disease. Alcoholic Brain Disease Vol. 27, No. 2, pg. 134-142. Retrieved on 8 October 2010 from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-2/134-142.pdf Charles S. Lieber, M.D., M.A.C.P (2003) Relationships between Nutrition, Alcohol Use, and Liver Disease. Alcohol Research & Health Vol. 27, No. 3, pg. 220-231. Retrieved on 9 October 2010 from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-3/220-231.pdf Dr. Ertuğrul EŞEL (2006). Neurobiology of Alcohol Withdrawal: Inhibitory and Excitatory Neurotransmitters. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, Vol 17, No.2. Karl-Ju¨rgen Ba¨ r, Michael Karl Boettger, Rene Neubauer, Marei Grotelu¨schen, Thomas Jochum, Vico Baier, Heinrich Sauer, and Andreas Voss ( 2006). Heart Rate Variability and Sympathetic Skin Response in Male Patients Suffering From Acute Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Alcohol Clin Exp Res, Vol 30, No. 9, pg. 1592–1598. Scott Boniol, MD, Molly Boyd, MD, Rachel Koreth, MD, and Gary V. Burton, MD (2007). Wernicke Encephalopathy Complicating Lymphoma Therapy: Case Report and Literature Review. Southern Medical Journal, Vol 100, No. 7, pg. 717 -719. George G. Harrigan, Greg Maguire & Laszlo Boros (2008). Metabolomics in Alcohol Research and Drug Development. Alcohol Research and Health Vol. 31, No. 1, pg. 26-35.Retrieved on 9 October 2010 from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh311/26-35.pdf Department of Surgical Education, Orlando Regional Medical Center (2009). Alcohol withdrawal. Retrieved on 9 October 2010 from http://www.surgicalcriticalcare.net/Guidelines/alcohol_2009.pdf . Vincent Bessonneau, Michel Clément and Olivier Thomas (2010) Can Intensive Use of Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs Lead to Passive Alcoholization? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, Vol. 7, pg.3039-3049. Retrieved on 9 October 2010 from http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/7/8/3038/pdf Read More