Feeling foggy? How alcohol contributes to brain fog

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) – Doctors said several factors cause brain fog, including lack of sleep, stress and some medications. However, medical professionals are now looking more in-depth at how excessive alcohol use contributes.

As part of our “Ask the Expert” series, in partnership with Bon Secours St. Francis , 7NEWS spoke with a doctor about the connection between excessive alcohol use and brain fog.

Doctors said brain fog is caused by an array of things and can impact the way you think, act and live your life.

“It’s anything that impairs your ability to think clearly and you start having memory issues,” said Dr. Anand Swamy, Bon Secours.

Researchers are now looking at how excessive alcohol use contributes to things like memory loss, difficulty thinking, and your ability to make decisions. Here’s why:

“So alcohol, you know, at its heart, is a neurotoxin,’ said Swamy. “It amplifies the inhibitory signals and it actually slows down the excitatory signal. So, it leads to a kind of constant slow, depressed state.”

Findings from the Providence Projects , a drug rehabilitation center based in the UK, showed excessive alcohol consumption impacts the brain’s neurotransmitters which can slow your response times.

Doctor Swamy said the key in this case, to avoid negative side effects of alcohol consumption, is moderation.

“All in all, when done in excess, it can lead to a multitude of medical complications,” said Swamy.

According to doctors, those medical complications include but are not limited to, issues with your heart or blood pressure, along with a potential impact on relationships.

“As soon as you start noticing changes in your behavior and how you’re interacting, it slows down your reaction time,” said Swamy. “I think that would be the time when it’s time to back off.”

Oftentimes, doctors said they use the acronym ‘CAGE’ to help patients determine when it’s time to seek help.

Have you ever felt the need to C ut down on your drinking? Do you feel A nnoyed by people complaining about your drinking? Do you ever feel G uilty about your drinking? Do you ever take an E arly-morning drink to get the day started or get rid of a hangover?

If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of the questions listed, doctors recommend seeking professional help.

“If brain fog goes untreated, or even alcoholism in general goes untreated, then it leads to more severe complications,” said Swamy. “You start developing what’s called alcoholic Dementia or you start developing memory issues.”

Doctors said there are many treatment options which include a plan to stop drinking, creating a balanced diet and exercise routine, and making sure you get adequate sleep.

The CDC’s moderate drinking recommendations include two drinks or less per day for men and one drink or less a day for women.

To submit a health topic for our ‘Ask the Expert’ series, click here .

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