What Part of the Brain Does Alcohol Affect?
Alcohol affects the whole body and all areas of the brain, but chronic drinking causes damage to certain areas more than others. Some of this damage can be corrected with treatment and abstinence, but heavy or prolonged drinking causes malnutrition, deficiencies and potentially fatal diseases. Areas Affected Although the entire brain is affected, the cerebellum and the frontal lobes are most heavily affected by alcohol consumption, according to the National Institute On Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism. The cerebellum is responsible for balance, coordination and movement, and the frontal lobes hold cognition, memory, thought and learning. Chemistry & Size Alcohol affects the chemistry and size of the brain, depending upon how long a person drinks and how much alcohol is consumed. Alcohol consumption causes serious vitamin deficiencies and can also cause the brain to shrink, leading to long-term problems with memory, learning and cognition. Brain Diseases According to the National Institute o