Search resultsEthanol and cognition: Indirect effects, neurotoxicity and neuroprotection: A review
Title
Ethanol and cognition: Indirect effects, neurotoxicity and neuroprotection: A review
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2010
Authors
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
7
Issue
4
Pagination
1540 - 1557
Date published
2010
ISBN
16604601 (ISSN)
Keywords
alcohol, alcohol consumption, alcohol intoxication, alcohol withdrawal, Alcoholic dementia, Alzheimer disease, apolipoprotein E4, brain ischemia, central nervous system infection, cognition, coronary artery disease, dementia, Ethanol, excitotoxicity, fetal alcohol syndrome, Glutamate, human, Humans, hypoglycemia, liver failure, Marchiafava Bignami disease, neuroprotection, Neuroprotective Agents, neurotoxicity, nonhuman, nutritional deficiency, oxidative stress, pellagra, polyphenol, resveratrol, review, risk reduction, teratogenesis, traumatic brain injury, Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome, Wernicke-korsakoff
Abstract
Ethanol affects cognition in a number of ways. Indirect effects include intoxication, withdrawal, brain trauma, central nervous system infection, hypoglycemia, hepatic failure, and Marchiafava-Bignami disease. Nutritional deficiency can cause pellagra and Wernicke-Korsakoff disorder. Additionally, ethanol is a direct neurotoxin and in sufficient dosage can cause lasting dementia. However, ethanol also has neuroprotectant properties and in low-to-moderate dosage reduces the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer type. In fetuses ethanol is teratogenic, and whether there exists a safe dose during pregnancy is uncertain and controversial.