Researchers shared their findings on the adverse effects of alcohol use disorder (AUD) on the brain and its interaction with aging and postural instability on June 25 at the 46th annual scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol, held in Bellevue, Washington.

“The neuropsychological deficits and neurocircuitry damages of AUD refer to the chronic effects of heavy drinking after the acute effects of alcohol toxicity, or drunkenness, have worn off,” said Edie Sullivan, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Sullivan described some of the damage and related cognitive deficits that can be caused by excessive drinking: impaired executive functioning can diminish planning and forethought, and the ability to control behaviors such as drinking; weakened episodic memory limits the ability to remember and recall new events; and compromised spatial skills lessen the ability to assemble pieces, follow a map, or remember where one’s car is parked.

Motor performance is also vulnerable to the effects of chronic drinking, undermining the ability to translate a cognitive thought or plan into a motor action, as well as postural stability while standing and walking.

“This damage to brain function and the related deficits is owing to alcohol’s impact on three principal neurocircuitries,” Sullivan added. “They are the frontocerebellar network, the frontolimbic network, and the frontostriatal network. These three frontal systems play a big role in AUD, as well as during normal aging,” she said.

“Our longitudinal studies show that the frontal cortical regions are the last to develop during adolescence and young adulthood and show the fastest accelerating decline in normal aging,” said Sullivan. “So, when AUD and aging intersect, we find accelerated aging, especially in the frontal brain regions.”

Even if drinking is initiated later in life, older drinkers are vulnerable – if not more vulnerable – to a decline in regional brain volumes. Nevertheless, Sullivan added, problem drinkers of any age who reduce or cease consumption may see fewer adverse physical and functional effects of drinking. “Indeed, several studies report that cortical gray matter volume may show some improvement with reduction in drinking.”

Although the presentation isn’t available online, a recently published study on the topic by Sullivan and colleagues is available by clicking here