Drinking alcohol has become a mainstream activity for adults all over the world. Over 70% of U.S. adults report drinking alcohol at some point in their lives. While we drink alcohol for a myriad of different reasons throughout our lives, one inescapable fact is that alcohol has a definitive effect on the brain as well as impacting other aspects of our health. In this episode host, Brian Browne and cohost Lizzy Rasmussen discuss the science of alcohol and its short-term and long-term effects on the brain and body.
Timestamps:
1:38 Culture of alcohol
2:30 Metabolism of alcohol
6:05 Effects of alcohol on the brain: cerebellum
8:36 Individual differences in alcohol tolerance
10:06 Effects of alcohol on the brain: prefrontal cortex
11:57 Effects of alcohol on the brain: hippocampus
14:15 Alcohol, stress, & the HPA axis
16:42 Alcohol used as self-medication
17:39 Effects of alcohol on other aspects of the body: blood pressure & pain threshold
18:50 The relationship between red wine and cardiovascular disease
19:15 Distilled versus fermented alcohol: impact on the gut microbiome
22:06 Populations with the greatest longevity and quality of life: “The Blue Zones”
25:00 Resveratrol
25:50 Psychological aspects: serotonin & dopamine alterations
28:12 Alcohol as a depressant
28:50 Dehydration
29:43 Impact on sleep
30:20 “Wet brain” & recommendations for alcohol intake
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If you’re interested in learning more, the episode Fact Sheet can be downloaded on our website by clicking here.