Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (24)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by DELIN, C. R.
Right arrow Articles by LEE, T. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by DELIN, C. R.
Right arrow Articles by LEE, T. H.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1992 Medical Council on Alcohol

research-article

INVITED REVIEW: DRINKING AND THE BRAIN: CURRENT EVIDENCE*

CATHERINE R. DELIN{dagger} and TERRY H. LEE{ddagger}

The Australian Wine Research Institute PO Box 197, Glen Osmond, SA 5064
{dagger}School of Occupational Therapy, The University of South Australia North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000
{ddagger}Department of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, The University of Adelaide Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia

There is no question, as accumulating evidence reveals, that alcohol in excess negatively affects the brain and neuropsychological functioning, both immediately and in the long-term. The important question for social drinkers, however, is whether moderate amounts of alcohol can have deleterious effects on the brain or performance in either the medium- or longterm. It has been proposed that there is a continuum of negative consequences with light drinkers at one end and chronic alcoholics at the other end. Three levels of study of this hypothesis are distinguished; behavioural, structural, and cellular. Research into effects at these three levels is reviewed both for alcoholics and for social drinkers. A further hypothesis relates to the possibility that cognitive functioning is impaired even after blood alcohol concentration has returned to zero. It is concluded that while neither the continuity hypothesis nor a ‘hangover’ hypothesis is supported by current evidence, considerably more research is needed.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Alcohol AlcoholHome page
M. RICHARDS, R. HARDY, and M. E. J. WADSWORTH
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND MIDLIFE COGNITIVE CHANGE IN THE BRITISH 1946 BIRTH COHORT STUDY
Alcohol Alcohol., March 1, 2005; 40(2): 112 - 117.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Aging HealthHome page
G. E. Bond, R. Burr, M. M. Rice, S. M. McCurry, A. B. Graves, L. Teri, J. D. Bowen, W. C. McCormick, and E. B. Larson
Alcohol, Aging, and Cognitive Performance:: A Cross-Cultural Comparison
J Aging Health, May 1, 2003; 15(2): 371 - 390.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 ANN INTERN MEDHome page
J. G. Wiese, M. G. Shlipak, and W. S. Browner
The Alcohol Hangover
Ann Intern Med, June 6, 2000; 132(11): 897 - 902.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.