Alcohol‐Related Brain Damage: the Neuropsychological Deficits and their Implication for Independent Living

Abstract

Alcohol related brain damage as seen in those with a long history of alcohol abuse at high levels is almost always accompanied by severe medical complications. However, more subtle neuropsychological impairment may be found in an individual who has almost no physical problems associated with alcohol abuse. The most common problems are short term memory loss, an inability to perform problem solving activities and difficulties with learning new skills. This has wide implications in an individual who needs to learn a new lifestyle which does not involve alcohol abuse. The neuropsychological deficits of alcohol abusers may be one reason why rehabilitation programmes for alcohol abusers are not very successful, since they rely heavily on the acquisition of new skills and styles of thinking.