Alcohol has been linked to memory issues - especially if consumed over many years.
Many people may be putting themselves at risk of "more serious brain damage" if they show signs of impairment and continue to consume the drink.
The beverage in question is alcohol, which has the ability to "worsen thinking abilities", reports The Express.
Dementia charity Alzheimer's Society is warning of alcohol -related brain damage (ARBD) that could result in greater risk of dementia.
The charity - dedicated to dementia research - states that if enough damage is done, alcohol-related " dementia " - otherwise known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome - can develop.
In order to work properly, the brain needs a vitamin called Thiamine.
Foods rich in thiamine include:
- Fish
- Beans, lentils
- Green peas
- Sunflower seeds
- Yoghurt.
A lack of vitamin B1 can have "severe and long-lasting effects on the brain".
If alcohol has severely damaged your brain, you are likely to suffer from memory loss.
Something called "confabulation" can occur, where the person may fill in the gaps of their memory with things that did not happen.
While the person regaling the tale really does believe in its truth, it can come across as though the person is lying.
Another telling sign is when the affected person struggles to understand new information or to learn new skills.
There may also be changes in personality, where the person becomes apathetic, or becomes very talkative, or does the same things over and over again.
Brain damage may also manifest as issues with concentration, planning, making decisions, or solving problems.
How alcohol affects the brain
Alcohol affects the brain in numerous ways; firstly, too much alcohol can be toxic to the nerves cells.
Drinking too much can cause brain cells to die and the brain tissue begins to shrink.
"This means there are fewer cells to carry the messages that the brain needs to do different tasks," the charity elaborated.
Regularly consuming alcohol can also damage the blood vessels in a person's brain, which can lead to high blood pressure.
Both of these risk factors do increase the odds of having a life-threatening stroke.
The Alzheimer's Society pointed out that, at present, alcohol-related brain damage is "under-diagnosed".
While there is no recovery possibilities for a person with dementia, alcohol-related damage can heal.
Treatments include turning teetotal, which means abstaining from alcohol, and vitamin B1 injections.
If, however, the person decides to keep drinking more than the NHS recommended guidelines of 14 units per week, dementia is a real risk.
One in 10 people diagnosed with dementia have some form of alcohol-related brain damage.
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