Many social drinkers have experienced a blackout after drinking too much alcohol on an empty stomach. Individuals afflicted by Korsakoff Syndrome often “remember” events in detail that they never actually experienced. Korsakoff’s is an impairment of the brain’s memory and problem-solving functions. Wernicke’s is characterized by damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems brought on by low thiamine levels. Alcohol-related dementia can occur in drinkers as young as age thirty.Īlcohol dementia is associated with two related conditions: Wernicke’s Disorder and Korsakoff Syndrome. Its symptoms are almost identical to the dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease and may include memory loss, impaired judgment, difficulties in speaking and an inability to perform routine tasks. Repeated alcohol blackouts can cause brain and nerve damage and lead to ongoing memory problems.Īlcohol Dementia – This is a serious condition caused by chronic alcoholism. Unlike a brownout, the memories from a blackout will never be restored because excessive alcohol has inhibited the brain’s memory-making process. This alcohol-induced amnesia is known as a blackout.

The memory loss is usually temporary and some memory of events may be restored after discussion with others who were present during the events.īlackouts – Most people who have indulged in binge drinking have had the unfortunate experience of waking up the next morning with no memory of what happened the night before. An individual will have incomplete memories about what happened during a drinking episode. These three types of memory loss that are warning signals for brain damage from alcohol abuse:īrownouts – This type of memory loss is fragmentary. While long-term memories may retain intact, the brain’s ability to form new memories is seriously impaired. Research shows that excessive drinking destroys brain tissue and can lead to several types of memory loss.

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