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Alcohol Related Dementia

Alcohol Related Dementia

Alcohol related dementia (brain damage or ARBD) is the term used to describe a decline in cognitive abilities caused by alcohol abuse. ARBD leads to slightly different symptoms in different people and causes a range of conditions.

The most common forms of ARBD are Alcohol-Related Dementia – which can include problems with memory, attention, learning new tasks and reasoning – and Korsakoff’s syndrome which is a chronic memory disorder, caused by a severe lack of vitamin B1 (Thiamine). The symptoms of these two forms of ARBD often overlap.

Does alcohol abuse cause dementia?

There is some debate as to whether alcohol abuse is a direct cause of ARBD or whether the alcoholic’s lifestyle is also a contributory factor.

Alcohol is a toxin, which can cause damage to nerve cells and blood vessels leading to brain shrinkage. However, people who are heavily dependent on alcohol also often suffer head injuries from falling over or fighting, which can contribute to alcohol related dementia. Likewise, heavy drinkers tend to replace food with drink and don’t look after themselves which means that their bodies do not absorb vitamins as efficiently as they might otherwise do.

What are the symptoms of alcohol related dementia?

Not all people will experience the same symptoms but typically the symptoms might include:

  • A decline in the ability to process and learn
  • Difficulty remembering
  • Decreased ability to plan, organise and think logically
  • Reduced attention span
  • Changes in personality and mood
  • Inhibited social skills

Who is affected by alcohol related dementia?

Not everyone who drinks to excess will necessarily get alcohol related dementia, but typically, people who drink heavily over a period of 10 years or longer are more likely to be affected. It is not known why some heavy drinkers do develop alcohol related dementia or Korsakoff’s syndrome, while others do not. Men and women over the age of 45 seem to be more susceptible, but possibly because they have a longer history of regular drinking.

Is there a cure to alcohol related dementia?

As long as the condition has not developed too far, the problems can sometimes be reversed or slowed if the person is able to stop drinking alcohol, improves their diet and lifestyle and ensures they have a good level of Vitamin B1 intake. Alcohol withdrawal therapies can help with this.

If left unchecked for a long time, the brain damage can be permanent and degenerative.

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Nick Conn / 10th March 2018/ Posted in: Alcohol

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    Getting treatment away from home can be very appealing to some. Being out of the local area makes it a lot harder to just walk out of treatment as resources locally are unknown. Some also take comfort in knowing that they are not near home and focus more on treatment.

    As the price for treatment can vary so much from one residential treatment centre to another, private paying patients often would rather travel to keep the cost down. Those using private health insurance may also have to travel to find a treatment centre covered in their policy.

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    There is no right or wrong when choosing where to go to residential rehab, but our expert advisors are always on hand to help provide information on all possible options.

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    Environmental risks – these can include influences such a peer pressure and stress as well as physical or mental abuse of an individual (particularly as a child). Overall, those who live with frequent pressures and stress are more likely to reach for a substance to cope and are therefore at higher risk of becoming addicted.

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    How do you help a loved one trapped in addiction?

    The first step is to help and encourage the individual to become willing to accept help. They do not need to be shouting this off the rooftops, but they do need to be willing to go into treatment. There are ways to help someone become willing to get treatment for alcohol or treatment for drugs.

    Set boundaries – set boundaries and stick to them. Once you have laid them out follow through with whatever consequences you have set however hard it is.

    Stop finances – if you are financially supporting someone stopping these finances can be the quickest way for the addict needing to ask for help. With no money to acquire a substance an addict’s options become very limited.

    Intervention – getting together with other family members/friends/colleagues and staging an intervention is often very successful in the fist stage of acceptance and gaining an admission to residential rehab.

    You can’t make them quit, this can lead to dangerous withdrawal. Boundaries are very important in helping someone become willing to get help. Unfortunately you cannot do someone’s recovery for them and without self-motivation it is very hard to make it work.

    The next step is to call our highly trained advisers 0203 955 7700.

    There is a huge range of rehab options available and where to start can be completely over whelming so let us help.