Ground Report

 

It is a well known fact that alcohol acts on the central nervous system and slows down the functions of the brain and is considered universally to be the most abused drink.

Now there is more disturbing news about its ill-effects. A new study reports that too much alcohol could cause Brian injury and degeneration. By conducting postmortem on the brain tissues of chronic alcohol addicts, the researchers have found out that excessive addiction to alcohol could decrease the levels of genes needed for brain cells to respond to insulin culminating in neuro-degeneration similar to the one that can occur in type-2 diabetic conditions. This is because it inhibits insulin and insulin like growth factors.

The study was conducted at Rhode Island Hospital in collaboration with Warren Alpert School of Medicine affiliated to Brown University. According to Prof.Monte who headed the study, Insulin being the most important hormone in the body performs critical functions in regulating the metabolism of the body and human beings depend on this to stay alive and carryout day today functions. The study, according to her, had indicated that in the brains of people addicted to chronic alcoholism there was significant resistance of Insulin and Insulin like Growth Factors in those regions which react in a highly harmful manner to alcohol’s toxic effect.

The reason as to why moderate drinkers survive can be due to the fact that alcohol has to pass through the gastrointestinal tract and liver where the enzymes detoxify alcohol which reduces the level that gets into the brain.

While consumption of alcohol in general is injurious to health, excessive consumption is a sure way to kill oneself, albeit gradually.

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