Dementia is the name for a group of symptoms associated with the ongoing decline of the brain.
While it is often associated with getting older, it can affect people who are much younger too.
And in some cases it can have a specific, non age-related cause.
As the name suggests, alcohol-related dementia is dementia caused by excessive drinking.
It is a type of alcohol-related brain damage, also known as ARBD, which occurs as a result of regularly drinking too much alcohol, or binge-drinking, over several years.
The Alzheimer’s Society explains: “If a person regularly drinks much more than the recommended limit of alcohol, it can damage their brain.
“It causes their memory and ability to think clearly to get worse over time, especially if the person drinks too much over many years.
“Some people with ARBD will only have small changes to their thinking and memory, known as mild cognitive impairment. They are at risk of more serious brain damage unless they stop drinking.
“Other people with ARBD will have more serious problems with their memory and thinking.
“Alcohol-related dementia or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome will cause them to struggle with day-to-day tasks.
“This is similar to someone living with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.”
The charity lists six symptoms of alcohol-related dementia to look for.
These include difficulties with:
- Staying focused on a task without becoming distracted
- Solving problems, planning and organising
- Setting goals, making judgements and making decisions
- Being motivated to do tasks or activities (even essential ones like eating or drinking)
- Controlling their emotions – they may become irritable or have outbursts
- Understanding how other people are thinking or feeling (their behaviour may seem insensitive or uncaring).
It can also affect a person’s balance and mood.
“A person with alcohol-related dementia may be unsteady on their feet and more likely to fall over – even when they are sober,” the society says.
“This is because alcohol damages the part of the brain that controls balance, co-ordination and posture.
“Alcohol-related dementia can also cause problems with a person’s mood, such as apathy, depression or irritability.
“These can make it even harder for the person to stop drinking – and make it difficult for people close to them to help.”
If you think someone is suffering from alcohol-related dementia you should seek professional support, the charity advises.
Unlike other forms of dementia, alcohol-related dementia doesn’t necessarily always progress and there are steps that can be taken to prevent this from happening.
The charity adds: “Unlike Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia, alcohol-related dementia is not certain to get worse over time.
“With the right treatment and support, there is often a good chance that it will stop getting worse or improve.
“For example, if the person stops drinking alcohol, takes high doses of thiamine and starts eating a balanced diet.
“However, if the person keeps drinking alcohol and doesn’t eat well, alcohol-related ‘dementia’ is very likely to get worse.”
