Why your recognition of your impairment is impairedPUBLISHED: 08 Jul 2014 18:43:00 | UPDATED: 09 Jul 2014 04:31:37PUBLISHED: 09 Jul 2014 PRINT EDITION: 09 Jul 2014
A UK report says many people who have been drinking heavily for five years are unlikely to be aware of the effect this has had on their memory and their reasoning ability.
But their family, friends and employers are likely to have noticed.
These drinkers will probably also have ”furring” of their arteries in the brain which can lead to more permanent damage and can put them at risk of a stroke.
In general, their brains need up to three months of total abstinence to recover.
Recovery is much longer for serious long-term heavy drinkers. The changes in their brain are more permanent.
A major problem for them is getting enough vitamins. Even if they have good meals, many have problems absorbing vitamin B1 (thiamine). This and other vitamins are necessary for the brain to operate properly.
Without them brain damage can be permanent.
Typically, short-term memory has been affected. They appear able to maintain normal conversation but after a few minutes start to forget what has been discussed.
The same can happen to long-term memory and depending how seriously they are affected, they may lose up to 25 years’ worth of memories.
There is also a problem with false memories and when they can’t remember, they confabulate. Their brain tries to make sense of the world and fill in the gaps. They don’t recognise they are doing this.
Then there are problems with reasoning, difficulties with emotional issues and changes in behaviour.
They are unlikely to be aware that the front part of their brain, the main seat of reasoning and decision-making, is damaged.
This means they may not grasp the implications of decisions, particularly complicated ones in financial planning.
However, most can benefit from rehabilitation and dramatically improve over two to three years.
Others notice they have problems controlling impulses and managing risk. Socially they become unpredictable, they don’t comprehend the emotional needs of others and arguments or even relationship break-ups follow.
The Australian Financial Review