It has been shown previously that alcohol at very low doses generally disrupts the cellular machinery. Everyone knows that drinking can impair brain function and result in neurological disorders. The thought process so far of the drinking masses has been that the brain cells end up like jelly and eventually breaks down and kills all the cells. Now you can relax and stop worrying about your grey matter getting killed,since new research suggests that alcohol doesn’t kill brain cells.

Stephen Braun in his book ‘Buzz-The Science and lore of alcohol and caffeine,” says that alcohol does many things to the brain, one thing it clearly does not do is wipe out neurons indiscriminately. This might come as a surprise for some and a relief for others but there are several research studies done to substantiate this.

According to Robert.J.Pentney, Professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University of Buffalo who studied chronic alcohol abuse and brain function the conclusions were that alcohol does not kill the brain cells but damages dendrites; the branched ends of nerve cells that bring messages into the cells.

It is known alcohol does affect the brain leading to slurred speech, clumsiness, slow reflexes and loss of inhibition but does not destroy the brain cells. What really happens is that there is dilation of the calcium channels allowing more calcium to flow into cells. Due to this incoming messages are disrupted, affecting normal functions. This damage is temporary and reversible. The brain cells repair themselves returning it to normal conditions. So, alcohol doesn’t harm brain cells other than affecting the normal functioning in the person consuming it.

"Even in alcoholics, alcohol use doesn't actually result in the death of brain cells."
— Discovery Health

Another researcher Richard Gross, professor of medicine, chemistry and molecular biology and pharmacology at Washington University in St. Louis, found similar results. According to him alcohol combines with brain’s fatty acids and forms compounds called fatty-acid-ethyl-esters. These change the flow of electric and chemical signals in the brain. A change in the flow alters how brain works. This molecule attaches to and enters the nerve cell. The compounds speeds the release of Potassium ions inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters thus slowing down communication of the cells. So alcohol does not kill brain cells.

According to Professor Perry Bartlett, of Queensland Brain Institute, says no evidence for the destruction. New research to be revealed at the world’s top neuroscientists found that alcohol does not kill off brain cells. Some other studies done in Italy, show that a bottle of wine at night reduces the risk of dementia, in old age. 100 billion cells also get replenished by the self repair mechanism.

Alcohol doesn't kill brain cells but it is important to remember that anything in moderation is good and has positive benefits for blood vessels, health and stroke prevention. Excess of alcohol might not damage brain cells but might kill your liver, a person’s well being and also make one an addict to alcohol. This might become a costly habit one that cannot be remedied easily, in addition to the damage it might do socially and with family ties.

Image Credit: Marymount College