By Gabe Sanders PhD, NSCA-CSCS
Most people know that heavy drinking can harm the liver or heart, but fewer realize that alcohol can also affect the brain in ways that are harder to see. Over time, chronic alcohol use has been linked to problems with memory, planning, coordination, and decision making. Scientists have long known that alcohol can shrink certain parts of the brain, but the exact biological processes behind this damage have remained unclear.
Loss of myelin and heavy alcohol use
Researchers studied brain tissue from adults who had alcohol use disorder and compared it with brain tissue from people who did not have a history of substance use disorders. They focused on the white matter in the frontal lobe, a part of the brain that plays an important role in attention, decision making, and complex thinking. The researchers found clear signs of damage in this region. In particular, they observed loss of myelin, a protective coating around nerve fibers that helps brain signals travel quickly and efficiently.
Additionally, the researchers found disruptions in important biological systems in our body’s that keep brain cells healthy. Alcoholism destroys these systems over time preventing natural brain cell repair and overall brain function. Together, these findings suggest that long term heavy alcohol use can damage the brain’s communication systems and interfere with its ability to repair itself.
Long term drinking can affect the brain at cellular levels
Interestingly, the researchers found that common markers of inflammation and Alzheimer related disease were largely unchanged. This suggests that alcohol related brain damage may occur through different biological pathways than other neurodegenerative conditions. The key takeaway is that long term heavy drinking can affect the brain at the cellular level long before symptoms become noticeable. Limiting alcohol intake and supporting overall health through good sleep, proper nutrition, and regular physical activity may help protect long term brain function.
Article’s Source
de la Monte SM, Tong M, Sutherland G. Molecular and biochemical correlates of frontal lobe white matter degeneration in humans with alcohol use disorder. Adv Drug Alcohol Res. 2026;6:15431. doi:10.3389/adar.2026.15431.
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