Alcohol-related brain damage: diagnosis, treatment and medical management

Abstract

Alcohol misuse is often a hidden problem and alcohol-related brain damage is thought to account for around 10% of cases of dementia ( Gupta and Warner, 2008 ; Brust, 2010 ). In England, an estimated 589 101 adults are alcohol-dependent and 24% of adults in England and Scotland regularly drink more than Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) guidelines ( Burton et al, 2016 ). Alcohol misuse can affect many aspects of health and can lead to alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). This article explains about the pathophysiology and clinical features of ARBD, and how it is diagnosed, treated and managed.