A study shows the effect of alcohol on decision-making areas of the brain

Scientists from Johns Hopkins University have demonstrated how excessive alcohol consumption causes serious problems with decision-making in the brain, in a first-of-its-kind study.

These problems do not disappear even months after stopping drinking alcohol.

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, demonstrated how alcohol destroys key areas of the brain responsible for cognitive abilities. This discovery may explain why alcoholics struggle to cope with relapse.

The research team, led by neuroscientist Patricia Janak, gave high doses of alcohol to mice for a full month. After nearly three months without alcohol, the mice were tested.

The rats were asked to choose between two arms to receive a reward. One arm offered more frequent rewards, but the "winning" arm changed every few minutes. To succeed, the rats had to quickly adapt and change their strategy. The alcohol-exposed rats performed significantly worse than the healthy rats, delaying the switch to the new "correct" arm and exhibiting significant difficulty making decisions.

These results demonstrate the long-term impact of alcohol on cognitive brain functions, even long after alcohol consumption has been stopped.

Scientists discovered significant changes in the brains of mice, specifically in an area called the dorsomedial striatum. This region is responsible for planning and strategic thinking.

The results showed that mice that consumed alcohol suffered from impaired neural signals and decreased information processing efficiency.

Surprisingly, these disturbances persisted even 3 months after abstaining from alcohol, indicating that the damage alcohol causes to the brain may be permanent or long-term.

The study showed that alcohol not only temporarily disrupts the brain but also causes permanent damage. This may explain why addicts frequently relapse into alcohol, as the brain loses its ability to make sound decisions.

The changes were more pronounced in male mice than in females, suggesting that males and females may have different responses to alcohol, an interesting fact that merits further research.

The study indicated that damage to neural circuits may be a reason for the high rates of relapse even after treatment is completed. Scientists now plan to investigate the effect of alcohol on other areas of the brain and why male mice are more severely affected than females.

This research may pave the way for the development of new treatment approaches for addiction, more effective prevention programs, and a deeper understanding of gender differences in response to alcohol.