The Horrors of Alcohol Induced Dementia
There are more consequences to long term drinking than just alcohol withdrawal syndrome and long term liver damage. Long term drinking also causes alcohol induced dementia. Once thought to be Alzheimer’s or ordinary dementia, many people are exposed to this danger every time they drink. It is an insidious disease that might show up in early life or wait until later in life to show up. If you are an alcoholic and cannot stop drinking, you put yourself at grave risk of this devastating disease.
What is Alcohol Induced Dementia?
According to the National Library of Medicine, alcohol induced dementia is a brain disease that starts happening as soon as you start drinking. It is the gradual death of brain tissue as you consume alcohol. Since alcohol directly impacts the brain many people do not understand that this impact is devastating to the brain. The same lack of judgment, giddiness, and lack of inhibitions that makes alcohol fun to some is turning your brain against you.
It slowly destroys the neurons that results in a pattern of brain death that is almost like other dementia disorders. This usually starts happening earlier than traditional dementia.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Induced Dementia
Cognitive deficits and memory loss are symptoms of alcohol induced dementia.
The signs are subtle at first and then gradually move into full blown dementia. As more people are affected by it, doctors learn more about it. It was once mistaken for regular age dementia or early onset dementia but now they know that it is an actual disorder itself. The symptoms are:
- inability to learn new things
- cognitive deficits
- memory loss
- damage to short term memory
- ability to seem perfectly fine with some things and inept at others
- nerve damage
- nerve dysfunction
The nerve damage is normally due to the lack of vitamins and minerals that is seen in many people with long term alcoholism.
How can you Tell Someone is Suffering from Alcohol Induced Dementia?
The outward signs of alcohol induced dementia are not always apparent but some people report:
- frustration
- paranoia
- unstable moods
- anger
- personality changes
- irritability
- fear of being alone
- inability to do simple familiar tasks
- inability to make decisions
- inability to start or complete a task or project
- general disorientation
- not recognizing relatives or friends
- extreme memory loss
- neglect of appearance
- loss of inhibitions
These signs get worse as the disease goes on until the person is unable to care for themselves. Most people with alcohol induced dementia end up living their lives out in Alzheimer’s wards or nursing homes.
How to Find Help for Alcoholism Before the Symptoms of Alcohol Induced Dementia Set In
You can stop alcohol induced dementia by seeking help for your alcoholism before the disease starts. With the right treatment program, you can significantly decrease your chances of winding up with this terrible condition. For more information on seeking treatment before it is too late call 800-839-1686.