Researchers from the Universities of Cologne, Mannheim, and Heidelberg have shown that even a single alcohol dose permanently changes the morphology of neurons. In particular, alcohol affects the synapses’ structure as well as the dynamics of the mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouses.

Professor Henrike Scholz and her team members Michèle Tegtmeier and Michael Berger demonstrated that alterations in the migration of mitochondria in the synapses lessen the rewarding effect of alcohol using the genetic model system of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. These findings imply that even a single drinking incident might lay the foundation for alcohol addiction. The study was recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [1]

Figure 1. One Sip of Alcohol is Enough to Permanently Alter your Brain

Figure 1 shows Brain scans of mice that had been intoxicated for the first time showed “lasting changes” in how their neurons communicated even after their binge, particularly by disrupting the flow of energy created by the mitochondria. Similar changes were seen in fruit flies — and both were more likely to go on and increase their alcohol consumption over time, then relapse later in life. [2]

The morphological remodelling of neurons is a well-known basis for learning and memory. These so-called cellular plasticity mechanisms, which are central to learning and memory, are also thought to be at the core of the formation of associative memories for drug-related rewards. Therefore, some of the observed morphological changes may influence ethanol-related memory formation. Together with the migration of mitochondria in neurons, which are also important for synaptic transmission and plasticity, the researchers speculate that these ethanol-dependent cellular changes are critical for the development of addictive behaviours. [3]

There are several stages of alcohol intoxication:

• Subliminal intoxication. With a blood alcohol content (BAC) between 0.01 – 0.05, this is the first stage of intoxication. You may not look like you have been drinking, but your reaction time, behavior and judgment may be slightly altered. Depending on weight, most men and women enter this stage after one drink.
• Euphoria. During the early stages of drinking, your brain releases more dopamine. This chemical is linked with pleasure. During euphoria, you may feel relaxed and confident. But, your reasoning and memory may be slightly impaired. Often referred to as "tipsy," this stage occurs when your BAC is between 0.03 and 0.12.[4]

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/one-sip-of-alcohol-is-enough-to-permanently-alter-your-brain/
2. https://nypost.com/2022/08/26/first-sip-of-alcohol-changes-brain-forever-leads-to-addiction-study/
3. https://portal.uni-koeln.de/en/universitaet/aktuell/press-releases/single-news/one-zip-of-alcohol-is-enough-to-modify-the-brain
4. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/alcohol-and-the-brain

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), One Sip of Alcohol is Enough to Permanently Alter your Brain, Anatechmaz, pp. 411