Alcoholic Dementia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Alcohol addiction treatment options include outpatient and inpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment involves going to regular physical and mental health appointments to get treatment and learn how to overcome alcohol addiction while otherwise keeping any work and social obligations. Inpatient treatment requires more dedication and involves living in a rehab center to get intensive treatment that is more likely to have a lasting effect.

Diagnosis of Alcohol-Related Dementia

They’ll likely start by doing a physical exam and asking about your physical and psychological symptoms. They may also ask you to complete a questionnaire about symptoms related to your memory and cognitive abilities. Symptoms tend to develop gradually and worsen over time if you continue drinking. At the current time there are no acceptable criteria to definitively define alcohol-related dementia. They want to help you understand what’s causing the symptoms you’re experiencing.

• By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
• Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life.
• A notable aspect of alcoholic dementia is the impact on the frontal lobes of the brain, which are crucial for planning, controlling impulses, and executing tasks.
• Family and friends may also benefit from counseling or support groups to cope with the emotional toll of a loved one’s condition.
• If they keep drinking, though, these subtle issues usually intensify.
• Older adults are at increased risk due to the cumulative effects of alcohol on an aging brain.
• Seeking professional help and committing to sobriety are the first steps to recovery and preventing further brain damage.

Should Someone With Alzheimer’s or Dementia Drink Alcohol?

For this reason, the connection between alcohol and dementia in the elderly may be a hard obstacle to overcome. Talk with your loved one’s doctor about medical and therapeutic interventions. The length of rehab can vary widely depending on each individual’s progress and needs. Some programs last 30 days, while others may continue for 60 or 90 days or more. In the context of alcohol-related dementia, longer-term programs may be beneficial, as cognitive improvements and the establishment of healthy routines can take time. Ongoing aftercare, including therapy sessions, support groups, and regular medical check-ups, is often recommended to sustain progress.

Epidemiological Studies of Electronic Health Data

Additionally, medications that are indicated for treating dementia, such as Namenda (memantine), may be prescribed, but the benefits are not established for alcohol-related dementia. It can affect several areas of the brain, but it most commonly affects the mammillary bodies found on the hypothalamus. Your provider will help you set realistic expectations based on your health and unique situation. So, you should expect the changes in your ability to think and use your body to be permanent.

Cross-Sectional Studies

The purpose of this article is to review current models on alcohol neurotoxicity and dementia and to analyze and compare studies focusing on the epidemiological link between alcohol consumption and the risk of dementia. Alcohol-related dementia is a medical condition where heavy alcohol use can directly harm the brain and gradually lead to dementia. In some studies, you might see it called alcoholic dementia, alcohol persisting dementia, or “ARD dementia.” No matter the name, the core problem is that over-drinking for a long period can damage brain cells.

Treatment for Alcohol-Related Dementia

• At the current time there are no acceptable criteria to definitively define alcohol-related dementia.
• It can affect the way the brain works, resulting in problems with memory, judgment, and decision–making.
• Rehabilitation programs may also play a vital role in recovery, offering psychological support and strategies to manage symptoms​​​​.
• Research hasn’t come to a consensus on the effects of alcohol on more common types of dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease.
• The symptoms of alcohol-related ‘dementia’ can change a lot from person to person.

Alcohol-related ‘dementia’ can also cause problems with a person’s mood, such as apathy, depression or irritability. These can make it even harder for the person to stop drinking – and make it difficult for people close to them to help. A person with alcohol-related ‘dementia’ may be unsteady on their feet and more likely to fall over – even when they are sober. This is because alcohol damages the part of the brain that controls balance, co-ordination and posture. The symptoms of alcohol-related ‘dementia’ can change a lot from person to person. If a person with the condition has a brain scan, it will often show that some areas of the brain have shrunk much more than others.

But the more (and more often) you drink, the higher your risk of ARBD.

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They should also take an account from someone who knows the person well, as this can help if the person has gaps in their memory. The doctor may also ask about problems with mood, such as anxiety or depression. In order to make a diagnosis of alcohol-related ‘dementia’, a doctor may ask the person to do a paper-based test to check for problems with memory and thinking. Find out about Alcohol-related ‘dementia’ including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, support and rehabilitation. If you or a loved one is living with alcohol-related dementia, it can be extremely difficult to cope with—personally and for the family. Options may include inpatient or outpatient detoxification from alcohol, and sometimes, medication is necessary to help a person stop drinking.

• However, the permanence of such changes, and whether they relate to neurotoxicity in isolation, remains to be established 1.
• While normal aging causes mild cognitive decline, alcohol misuse accelerates and exacerbates these changes, leading to severe memory loss and cognitive impairments.
• The purpose of this review is to give an overview about the dose- and pattern-related effects of alcohol on the risk of developing dementia, while trying to differentiate different neurodegenerative, vascular and other forms of dementia.
• If a person with the condition has a brain scan, it will often show that some areas of the brain have shrunk much more than others.

In some cases, stopping alcohol consumption can partially reverse cognitive impairments. Research indicates a strong Substance abuse link between heavy drinking and increased risk of cognitive decline. Alcohol consumption at high doses damages brain cells, leading to structural and functional impairments. The frontal lobes, responsible for decision-making and social behavior, are particularly vulnerable.