Alcohol-related dementia: How to identify and treat the conditions that neurotoxicity and vitamin B1 deficiency can cause

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Dementia is a major source of concern worldwide, as the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 50 million people currently suffer from the disease and 10 million new cases occur each year. .. Dementia can be caused by mild cognitive impairment, brain damage, trauma or infections, and even Huntington’s disease, which causes debilitating psychological and neurodegenerative problems that are usually progressive and incurable. There is a possibility.

What many do not know is that excessive alcohol consumption is also a cause of dementia, and like most others, this species does not always appear after reaching the 60s. As a study of International Journal of High Risk Behavior In 2016, alcohol-related dementia is likely to appear in middle age. Still, studies have shown that alcohol-related dementia has received little attention or recognition as a separate clinical entity.

How Does Alcohol-Related Dementia Occur?

Alcohol consumption is a controversial topic at best. While many studies have shown that low-dose consumption can have many health benefits, other studies talk about the risks associated with even minimal consumption. You rarely find an expert who says that overdose of alcohol is good for your health. The US Dietary Guidelines and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that moderate alcohol intake restrictions are one cup daily for adult women and two cups daily for adult men.

Drinking above this level is regularly associated with cardiovascular disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and obesity, apart from increasing the risk of alcohol-related dementia. The exact cause behind alcohol-related dementia is unknown, but scientists believe it is due to:

1. Neurotoxicity: Published in Psychiatric disorders and treatment In January 2020, chronic exposure to alcohol was described as being directly neurotoxic. High doses of alcohol also cause the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and also cause brain cell death. Alcohol also activates oxidative stress in the nervous system, which leads to the formation of free radicals. Elevated homocysteine ​​levels after alcohol consumption can also cause brain damage.

2. Vitamin B1 deficiency: Recently published theoretical article Alzheimer’s disease and dementia Thiamine or vitamin B1 is depleted due to impaired alcohol use, which states that it plays a major role in causing brain damage and dementia. Thiamine deficiency impairs the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, allowing iron to pass through and accumulate in the brain. Many studies have shown that increased levels of iron and other metal ions are involved in the development of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease. This hypothesis has not yet been concretely proven, but it is very popular among alcohol-related dementia professionals.

3. Multifactorial causes: Many experts believe that alcohol-related dementia is actually caused by a combination of both, rather than being caused by either neurotoxicity or thiamine deficiency, resulting in more serious brain and nervous system damage. I will.

Symptoms of alcohol-related dementia

Nonprofit Dementia According to Australia, the symptoms of alcohol-related dementia vary from person to person, but most patients have the following symptoms:

• Alcohol-induced problems with memory or Korsakoff syndrome
• Impaired ability to learn things
• Personality change
• Difficulty in clear and logical thinking, especially during work that requires organization, planning, common sense, judgment and social skills
• Unbalanced or frequently falls or hits objects
• Lethargy and reduced spontaneity

Treatment of alcohol-related dementia

Many people who develop alcohol-related dementia are young, which makes proper treatment for their illness even more important. If detected early, alcohol-related dementia can be treated in two simple but important steps.

1. Stop alcohol consumption altogether

2. Dietary improvements with a special focus on vitamin B1 supplementation

Even more helpful are getting enough antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, good sleep, adopting proper exercise routines, and avoiding stress and anxiety. These steps can improve the health of young patients and even significantly reverse the damage done to the brain and nervous system. This is why it is so important to identify the disease and get treatment early.

For more information, see the following articles. Alcoholism..

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