Alcohol and Dementia

What is alcohol related dementia?

Alcohol related dementia is, as the name suggests, a form of dementia related to the excessive drinking of alcohol. This affects memory, learning and other mental functions. Korsakoff’s syndrome and Wenicke/Korsakoff
syndrome are particular forms of alcohol related brain injury which may be related to alcohol related dementia.

What is the cause?

It is currently unclear as to whether alcohol has a direct toxic effect on the brain cells, or whether the damage is due to lack of thiamine, vitamin B1.
Nutritional problems, which often accompany consistent or episodic heavy use of alcohol, are thought to be contributing factors. Key parts of the brain may suffer damage through vitamin deficiencies, particularly marked levels of
thiamine deficiency and the direct effect that alcohol has on the absorption and use of thiamine.

What are the symptoms?

This can vary from person to person, but generally symptoms will include:
• Impaired ability to learn things
• Personality changes
• Problems with memory
• Difficulty with clear and logical thinking on tasks which require planning, organising, common sense judgement and social skills
• Problems with balance
• Decreased initiative and spontaneity

Generally skills learned earlier in life and old habits such as language and gestures tend to be relatively unaffected.

Who gets alcohol related dementia?

Anyone who drinks excessive amounts of alcohol over a period of years may get alcohol related dementia. Males who drink more than six standard alcoholic drinks a day, and women who drink more than four, seem to be at increased risk of developing alcohol related dementia. The risk clearly increases for people who drink high levels of alcohol on a regular basis. The National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia recommends that for health reasons related to the prevention of brain and liver damage adult males should drink no more than four standard drinks per day and adult females should drink no more than two standard drinks per day.

Some people who drink at high levels do not develop alcohol related dementia, but it is not currently possible to understand and predict who will and who won’t develop alcohol related dementia. Some people who develop alcohol related dementia might also show some degree of recovery over time if they reduce alcohol intake to safe levels or abstain from alcohol and maintain good health.

Alcohol related dementia can affect both men and women of any age.
 

Further information - phone the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 (freecall) or visit www.alzheimers.org.au