'Drinking too much alcohol causes more damage to the brain than marijuana'
A study by the University of Colorado Boulder and popular Neurosurgeon Dr Remi Nader explains how damaging drinking alcohol over a long period of time can be to the brain.
It is very important to take care of your brain.
According to WebMD, brain damage symptoms include:
- Persistent headaches.
- Extreme mental fatigue.
- Extreme physical fatigue.
- Paralysis.
- Tremors.
- Seizures.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Sleep disorders.
To avoid suffering from any brain damage, one needs to take care of their health and avoid anything that could pose as a health risk to the brain.
However, it seems one of the most consumed substances - alcohol, when taken excessively, can lead to brain damage.
A new study conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder found that alcohol can be more damaging to the brain than marijuana.
The study was based on an analysis of the brain images of 853 adults - aged between 18 and 55 years, and 439 teenagers - aged 14 and 18.
The researchers found that those who have been consuming alcohol for a long period of time had a reduction in gray matter volume and the integrity of white matter. These two are important for the functioning of the brain. Any reduction could lead to impairments in brain function.
When it came to marijuana, the researchers found that it had no effect on the structure of gray or white matter.
"While marijuana may also have some negative consequences, it definitely is nowhere near the negative consequences of alcohol," said study co-author Kent Hutchison, a professor of behavioral neuroscience at the university.
In the below video, Dr Remi Nader, a Neurosurgeon, explains the damaging effect of alcohol on the brain and compares the effects to how marijuana affects the brain.
READ: How to live with an alcoholic family member
Disclaimer: Please note that the views of the study are those of the researchers and not Kagiso Media. Excessive use of both alcohol and marijuana has been linked to health problems.