Articles

Ethanol and Cognition: Indirect Effects, Neurotoxicity and Neuroprotection: A Review

Brust, John C. M.

Ethanol affects cognition in a number of ways. Indirect effects include intoxication, withdrawal, brain trauma, central nervous system infection, hypoglycemia, hepatic failure, and Marchiafava-Bignami disease. Nutritional deficiency can cause pellagra and Wernicke-Korsakoff disorder. Additionally, ethanol is a direct neurotoxin and in sufficient dosage can cause lasting dementia. However, ethanol also has neuroprotectant properties and in low-to-moderate dosage reduces the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer type. In fetuses ethanol is teratogenic, and whether there exists a safe dose during pregnancy is uncertain and controversial.

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Also Published In

Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph7041540

More About This Work

Academic Units
Neurology
Publisher
Molecular Diversity Preservation International
Published Here
February 27, 2014