cerebellum-alcohol-infographic/index.html
2021-11-09 10:09:30 +00:00

228 lines
37 KiB
HTML
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

<html lang="en" data-theme="light">
<head>
<link rel='stylesheet' href='css/spectre.min.css' />
<link rel='stylesheet' href='css/style.css' />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
</head>
<body class='container'>
<header class='navbar'>
<nav class='navbar-section columns'>
<a class='btn btn-link column' href='#alcohol-and-the-brain'>Alcohol and the Brain</a>
<a class='btn btn-link column' href='#what-is-cerebellum'>What is Cerebellum?</a>
<a class='btn btn-link column' href='#how-alcohol-damages-cerebellum'>Alcohol and Cerebellum</a>
<a class='btn btn-link column' href='#how-cerebellum-damage-affects-you'>Symptoms</a>
<a class='btn btn-link column' href='#assessment'>Assessment</a>
<a class='btn btn-link column' href='#treatment-and-rehab'>Treatment & Rehabilitation</a>
</nav>
</header>
<div class='vertical-space'></div>
<main class='columns'>
<div class='heading text-center column col-12'>
<div>
<h1>How Does Alcohol Affect Your Brain?</h1>
<h2>Cerebellum and its Role in Your Coordination</h2>
</div>
</div>
<div class='illustration text-center column col-9 col-md-12 p-centered'>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<svg width="1562px" viewBox="0 0 1562 1089" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
<!-- Generator: Sketch 43.1 (39012) - http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch -->
<title>Alcohol-Cerebellum</title>
<desc>Created with Sketch.</desc>
<defs>
<linearGradient x1="100%" y1="50%" x2="0%" y2="50%" id="linearGradient-1">
<stop stop-color="#FFF9D5" offset="0%"></stop>
<stop stop-color="#FDBED2" offset="100%"></stop>
</linearGradient>
</defs>
<g id="Page-1" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd">
<g id="Human-with-Brain" transform="translate(-7.000000, 26.000000)">
<polygon id="brain-projection" fill-opacity="0.2" fill="#F489A8" points="323 421.284689 581.224434 159.576967 800.159533 276.683972"></polygon>
<g id="human" transform="translate(0.000000, 354.000000)" fill-rule="nonzero">
<g id="Head/Front/Pony" transform="translate(268.114447, 88.570247) rotate(15.000000) translate(-268.114447, -88.570247) translate(192.614447, 17.570247)">
<g id="Head" transform="translate(79.547235, 18.873244)" fill="#D4A181">
<path d="M13.8970375,57.9918034 C6.14659341,48.8975134 0.900930773,37.7523354 1.77748408,25.2638435 C4.30307823,-10.7189789 54.4098087,-2.80321638 64.1566052,15.3578224 C73.9034016,33.5188613 72.7452289,79.5858422 60.1483628,82.8317265 C55.1247501,84.1261807 44.4229613,80.9552864 33.5310371,74.3925099 L40.3676886,122.742421 L5.68434189e-14,122.742421 L13.8970375,57.9918034 Z" id="Shape"></path>
</g>
<path d="M107.415611,74.3348754 C102.409852,83.9401414 95.4866005,91.1735742 88.5699832,91.1735742 C75.4324609,91.1735742 66.0913396,73.6151524 66.0913396,54.7368454 C66.0913396,54.0735605 66.1044867,53.4146879 66.1304266,52.7607365 C52.2332711,62.2939735 41.5229044,81.085156 23.134645,81.085156 C-1.88241653,81.085156 -11.8177346,30.6430653 23.134645,30.6430653 C46.9049188,30.6430653 58.5973745,34.1075645 68.6739871,39.2307419 C70.661423,33.6298018 73.6919351,28.9207853 77.3976495,25.6323182 C78.2891382,24.629114 79.6558903,23.6692826 81.4191527,22.7794699 C82.4971418,22.1898839 83.6126695,21.7096897 84.7591669,21.3483264 C90.8362363,19.115849 99.6384939,17.5412192 109.470799,17.1979868 C111.306804,17.1338944 113.109977,17.1151391 114.869045,17.1387656 C114.897674,7.87704148 122.41718,0.377810901 131.688834,0.377810901 C140.978191,0.377810901 148.508704,7.90570865 148.508704,17.1918412 C148.508704,26.1723685 141.465691,33.5084833 132.600047,33.9816175 C127.528452,35.5459575 121.01236,36.6945269 113.78608,37.1788728 C114.487678,39.8163871 114.868963,42.8127028 114.868963,46.1986701 C114.868963,49.1884446 114.538856,52.3592635 113.931017,55.578795 C112.363722,53.7165414 110.268061,52.5013046 108.141015,52.5013046 C102.190875,52.5013046 98.0490931,57.3944382 98.0490931,62.5897228 C98.0490931,69.1833522 101.856924,73.9533609 107.415611,74.3348754 Z" id="hair" fill="#191847"></path>
</g>
<g id="Bottom/Standing/Jogging" transform="translate(6.451220, 306.465656)">
<polygon id="Leg" fill="#BA8B72" points="220.271118 0 345.25354 208.8755 438.954399 385.46213 459.136733 385.46213 302.139629 8.55897865e-13"></polygon>
<g id="Accessories/Shoe/Flat-Sneaker" transform="translate(423.722365, 366.844100)" fill="#E4E4E4">
<path d="M2.89177806,10.4659743 C1.01004746,15.487462 0.0691821523,19.2446952 0.0691821523,21.737674 C0.0691821523,24.769725 0.574474937,29.1942412 1.58506052,35.0112229 L96.4521768,35.0112229 C98.9174368,26.8639968 97.4943458,22.4655716 92.1829036,21.8159472 C86.8714613,21.166323 82.4591561,20.5797642 78.9459877,20.0562711 L34.8526615,0.406071447 C34.0042182,0.0279624531 33.0097947,0.409005088 32.6315543,1.25715376 C32.6250838,1.27166316 32.6188192,1.28626365 32.6127624,1.30095056 L29.7784774,8.17383657 C24.8614711,10.4671982 20.8658929,11.613879 17.7917431,11.613879 C15.2940693,11.613879 11.8447606,10.6054991 7.44381711,8.58873941 L7.44382631,8.58871926 C5.75494204,7.81477754 3.75820917,8.55600971 2.98399862,10.2443076 C2.95062901,10.3170756 2.91986922,10.3910117 2.89177806,10.4659743 Z" id="shoe"></path>
</g>
<path d="M412.931054,357.185302 L451.852327,345.415481 C434.799857,294.455494 413.899632,238.375896 389.151654,177.176689 C364.403676,115.977481 337.825267,56.9185846 309.41643,0 L199.48861,0 C231.073129,71.9993958 264.556953,137.420089 299.940086,196.26208 C335.323217,255.10407 372.986873,308.745145 412.931054,357.185302 Z" id="Pant" fill="#DB2721"></path>
<path d="M212.05735,0 C200.261356,73.4002851 177.510114,167.177646 175.363011,170.071643 C173.931608,172.000975 122.400753,189.262422 20.7704426,221.855984 L25.1300702,239.646906 C146.323976,222.166768 210.18283,208.604957 216.706629,198.961474 C226.492329,184.496252 275.353646,70.2206647 294.278547,0 L212.05735,0 Z" id="Leg" fill="#D4A181"></path>
<path d="M56.4952135,206.477094 L64.1742228,235.130658 C154.820204,243.078115 210.360998,237.335579 230.796607,217.903049 C251.232214,198.47052 274.522776,125.83617 300.66829,-2.27373675e-13 L195.845548,-2.27373675e-13 C179.280366,103.042891 170.01935,156.72715 168.062503,161.052777 C166.105655,165.378403 128.916559,180.519842 56.4952135,206.477094 Z" id="Pant" fill="#FF4133"></path>
<g id="Accessories/Shoe/Flat-Sneaker" transform="translate(26.332069, 261.144369) rotate(80.000000) translate(-26.332069, -261.144369) translate(-22.667931, 243.144369)" fill="#E4E4E4">
<path d="M2.89177806,10.4659743 C1.01004746,15.487462 0.0691821523,19.2446952 0.0691821523,21.737674 C0.0691821523,24.769725 0.574474937,29.1942412 1.58506052,35.0112229 L96.4521768,35.0112229 C98.9174368,26.8639968 97.4943458,22.4655716 92.1829036,21.8159472 C86.8714613,21.166323 82.4591561,20.5797642 78.9459877,20.0562711 L34.8526615,0.406071447 C34.0042182,0.0279624531 33.0097947,0.409005088 32.6315543,1.25715376 C32.6250838,1.27166316 32.6188192,1.28626365 32.6127624,1.30095056 L29.7784774,8.17383657 C24.8614711,10.4671982 20.8658929,11.613879 17.7917431,11.613879 C15.2940693,11.613879 11.8447606,10.6054991 7.44381711,8.58873941 L7.44382631,8.58871926 C5.75494204,7.81477754 3.75820917,8.55600971 2.98399862,10.2443076 C2.95062901,10.3170756 2.91986922,10.3910117 2.89177806,10.4659743 Z" id="shoe"></path>
</g>
</g>
<g id="Body/Trench-Coat" transform="translate(247.325447, 318.108624) rotate(10.000000) translate(-247.325447, -318.108624) translate(29.825447, 128.108624)">
<path d="M342.193849,151.736936 L392.967353,194.766814 C407.209659,199.697172 418.996701,205.416651 428.328479,211.925253 C430.482512,214.181709 432.966159,218.620086 423.47622,217.219658 C413.986281,215.819228 403.941286,214.772837 402.397212,217.934051 C400.853137,221.095265 406.354835,225.389393 403.386555,229.592841 C401.4077,232.395138 393.539152,224.471598 379.780912,205.822218 L328.317158,180.14696 L342.193849,151.736936 Z M101.13455,118.441789 L130.310098,125.855951 C91.2549921,191.491634 70.3696947,226.179344 67.6542058,229.919085 C61.5443554,238.333502 65.9819693,254.573792 67.4896313,263.082596 C55.1173528,265.287249 60.9021852,247.144197 45.2326965,250.174661 C30.930314,252.940728 18.4877767,261.310541 5.95889725,248.486993 C4.41854514,246.910413 3.47813929,242.185444 9.12201219,240.082978 C23.1829578,234.844972 44.0802265,224.752351 47.6009616,220.593393 C52.4021131,214.921912 70.2466425,180.871377 101.13455,118.441789 Z" id="Skin" fill="#D4A181" transform="translate(217.547299, 190.855379) rotate(-4.000000) translate(-217.547299, -190.855379) "></path>
<path d="M351.659196,147.421891 C358.562224,146.926484 366.071026,148.06965 374.121493,150.781215 C378.082885,152.115494 380.212205,156.407368 378.877462,160.367385 C378.102255,162.66733 376.329048,164.349498 374.202509,165.094269 C375.742916,166.217674 377.296972,167.334875 378.864837,168.445764 L365.329592,196.067774 C308.37258,167.678806 254.838436,146.275069 230.444114,99.407166 C222.256747,83.6770862 225.027938,30.2455147 224.246458,10.8073334 L242.235356,3.43249057 C267.311182,55.2479643 301.247637,104.958622 351.659196,147.421891 Z" id="Back-Arm" fill="#69A1AC"></path>
<path d="M161.055661,191.52819 C213.934517,197.335206 255.555979,197.335206 285.920044,191.52819 C289.681947,190.808739 289.516744,174.597565 287.772165,170.17014 C260.604541,101.223613 242.73346,50.7515234 242.73346,2.86281957 C237.748541,5.46578716 229.024466,5.85587439 216.561233,4.03308125 C183.066484,53.3839305 167.670139,110.008383 161.055661,191.52819 Z" id="Shirt" fill="#191847"></path>
<path d="M151.230463,199.679745 C149.434651,197.990659 148.498475,195.458624 148.95863,192.849857 L149.834853,187.88228 C150.428643,184.515894 153.16362,182.064537 156.3928,181.681035 C156.957304,179.15848 157.444016,176.65283 157.845988,174.165528 C161.241575,153.154507 155.440036,132.552519 155.712497,112.321262 C128.665971,135.389173 104.40311,175.221015 82.923914,231.816786 L51.1565841,222.47228 C52.3686876,217.970744 53.6242134,213.524497 54.9231618,209.133537 C51.2565668,207.051266 46.9721389,197.507648 50.0556257,195.910625 C53.2401859,194.261252 56.6138516,193.100367 60.1666851,192.417095 C89.2943389,104.716311 136.926917,40.5772795 203.06442,-8.10018719e-13 L212.149865,-8.01426951e-13 L222.19324,-1.82819745e-13 C216.561233,74.4537707 294.352531,237.001996 267.341419,375.824029 C217.415442,386.969507 146.13965,352.292211 76.7592031,379.997083 C79.340851,324.091965 131.054297,258.416171 151.230469,199.679731 L151.230463,199.679745 Z" id="Coat-Front" fill="#89C5CC"></path>
<polygon id="Shade-Lapel" fill-opacity="0.1" fill="#000000" points="210.011169 1.68140303 201.333537 28.3576104 218.808362 48.3555427 203.015525 64.0707138 241.222948 129.468033 194.499596 64.201368 210.011169 48.3555427 194.499596 30.6830128"></polygon>
<path d="M230.01713,154.689078 C226.301386,154.689078 223.289181,151.677919 223.289181,147.963466 C223.289181,144.249013 226.301386,141.237854 230.01713,141.237854 C233.732873,141.237854 236.745078,144.249013 236.745078,147.963466 C236.745078,151.677919 233.732873,154.689078 230.01713,154.689078 Z M238.427064,193.361348 C234.711321,193.361348 231.699116,190.350189 231.699116,186.635736 C231.699116,182.921282 234.711321,179.910123 238.427064,179.910123 C242.142807,179.910123 245.155012,182.921282 245.155012,186.635736 C245.155012,190.350189 242.142807,193.361348 238.427064,193.361348 Z M240.109052,232.033617 C236.393309,232.033617 233.381104,229.022457 233.381104,225.308005 C233.381104,221.593552 236.393309,218.582393 240.109052,218.582393 C243.824795,218.582393 246.837,221.593552 246.837,225.308005 C246.837,229.022457 243.824795,232.033617 240.109052,232.033617 Z" id="Buttons" fill-opacity="0.4" fill="#000000"></path>
</g>
</g>
<text id="brain" font-family="AppleColorEmoji, Apple Color Emoji" font-size="300" font-weight="normal" fill="#000000">
<tspan x="562" y="300">🧠</tspan>
</text>
</g>
<g id="Alcohol" transform="translate(1128.000000, 0.000000)">
<circle id="Oval" fill="#FFF9D6" cx="217" cy="217" r="217"></circle>
<text id="🍺" font-family="AppleColorEmoji, Apple Color Emoji" font-size="116" font-weight="normal" fill="#000000">
<tspan x="159" y="150">🍺</tspan>
</text>
<text id="🥃" font-family="AppleColorEmoji, Apple Color Emoji" font-size="116" font-weight="normal" fill="#000000">
<tspan x="278" y="257">🥃</tspan>
</text>
<text id="🍸" font-family="AppleColorEmoji, Apple Color Emoji" font-size="116" font-weight="normal" fill="#000000">
<tspan x="159" y="359">🍸</tspan>
</text>
<text id="🍷" font-family="AppleColorEmoji, Apple Color Emoji" font-size="116" font-weight="normal" fill="#000000">
<tspan x="38" y="257">🍷</tspan>
</text>
</g>
<rect id="connection-rectangle" fill="url(#linearGradient-1)" x="867" y="193" width="248" height="50"></rect>
</g>
</svg>
</div>
<div class='vertical-space'></div>
<section class='alcohol-and-the-brain column col-12'>
<h2 id='alcohol-and-the-brain'>Alcohol and the Brain</h2>
<div class='columns'>
<div class='column col-6 col-md-12'>
<p>Binge drinking (drinking 5 units over a 2 hour period, followed by a period of abstinence) and high alcohol intake (more than 5 units a day), can lead to dependence, tolerance and cravings, which lead to a continuation of alcohol abuse to prevent withdrawal symptoms.</p>
<p>Chronic alcohol abuse can have adverse effects such as loss of balance and gait, slurred speech, slower reactions, poor memory consolidation, compromised emotional modulation and judgement. These effects in turn can lead to difficulties in social and emotional interactions, and a reduction in motivation, attention and impulse control.</p>
<p>These effects are studied and proven using methods such as MRI scans which show loss of neurons, particularly in the frontal lobe, the area most associated with reasoning, decision-making and rationality, however it can affect other areas of the brain such as the cerebellum (associated with balance and movement), hippocampus (memory) and amygdala (memory, decision making and emotional responses). [<a href='#ref-1'>1</a>]</p>
</div>
<div class='column col-6 col-md-12'>
<div class='alcohol-abuse-chart-box'>
<canvas id='alcohol-abuse'></canvas>
<p class='text-center'>Every year millions of people suffer from Alcohol use disorder, leading to physical and mental health problems. Prevalence of alcohol abuse and direct death caused by alcohol dependance across the world [<a href='#ref-2'>2</a>]</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
<section class='column col-12'>
<h2 id='what-is-cerebellum'>What is Cerebellum and what does it do?</h2>
<p>Cerebellum (latin for "little brain") is one of the important areas of the brain with a primary function of motor control, which includes all directed movement, stability and balance, posture, gait and even reflexes. [<a href='#ref-3'>3</a>] Cerebellum is also important for cognition, emotion, attention, language control and more. [<a href='#ref-4'>4</a>] Antomatically, the cerebellum is located at the bottom of the brain, separate from the hemispheres. [<a href='#ref-5'>5</a>] You can see the cerebellum highlighted in the model below.</p>
<p>Our understanding of Cerebellum's function with regards to its primary function, namely motor control, is that it does not initiate movement, but rather calibrates and coordinates the movement for precision and accurate timing, this can in turn affect stability while standing or walking, general posture and coordination. [<a href='#ref-6'>6</a>]</p>
<div id='brain-container' class='c-move'></div>
</div>
<section class='column col-12'>
<h2 id='how-alcohol-damages-cerebellum'>How does Alcohol damage your Cerebellum?</h2>
<p>Alcohol consumption has a detrimental effect on the motor functions of the cerebellum, in particular postural control and coordination. Damage to the cerebellum can also cause speech control problems and poor muscle coordination. For example, it is very common for patrol officers to check the drivers ability to perform counting or walking exercises. This is why it is extremely dangerous to drive under the influence of alcohol since it could severely affect your visual and motor skills. </p>
<p>Brain imaging technology like computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that heavy alcohol abuse is correlated to brain tissue shrinkage (significant loss of nerve cells) that could increase the risk of having a stroke. [<a href='#ref-7'>7</a>] Moreover, long-term alcohol abuse can damage nerve signals that can result in permanent functional deficits in cognitive reasoning and mental balance. For instance, chronic alcoholics might no longer recover their ability to perform smooth and rapid movements as a result of motor control deficits. Abstinence from alcohol may show significant signs of improvement although it depends on how reversible their brain tissue injury is. [<a href='#ref-7'>7</a>]</p>
<p>Past research shows how alcoholics perform poorly in visual and cognitive tasks that involve organizing information in the right temporal order. Lack of coordination between visual and motor skills could increase the danger of head injuries and accidental falls. Cerebellar degeneration can provoke severe adaptation issues to changes in visuospatial perception that makes them unable to walk straight or in the dark with their eyes closed. It can also have a significant impact in the cognitive control of self-movement and sense of position. [<a href='#ref-8'>8</a>]</p>
<p>It is still unclear whether instability arising from alcohol abuse is directly caused from cerebellum dysfunction or from deficiency of the peripheral nervous system in body position and motor balance. Hence, more research is still needed to understand whether the cerebellar damage represents the prime cause of certain functional deficits in alcoholics. “New research must be conducted to determine if alcohol-related imbalance results from cerebellar pathology or from poor functioning of the peripheral nervous system in the bodys extremities, such as the hands and feet. Peripheral neuropathy can occur in alcoholics, resulting in decreased sensation that may lead to imbalance ” [<a href='#ref-7'>7</a>]. Knowledge of this kind would be crucial for quickening recovery processes.</p>
</section>
<section class='column col-12'>
<h2 id='how-cerebellum-damage-affects-you'>How does damage and dysfunction of Cerebellum affect you?</h2>
<p>Damage to the cerebellum can cause a broad spectrum of motor and cognitive disturbances. It causes impairments in motor coordination and balance which lead to symptoms of clumsiness, irregular walking and feelings of dizziness. [<a href='#ref-13'>13</a>] Smooth and purposeful movements become difficult for subjects with cerebellar damage. [<a href='#ref-14'>14</a>]</p>
<p>Signs and symptoms can include a wide-based, uncoordinated walk; a back and forth tremor in the trunk of the body; uncoordinated movements of the arms and legs; slow and slurred speech and uncontrolled eye movements. This lack of coordination of motor movements is often referred to as Ataxia. [<a href='#ref-15'>15</a>] Subjects with left cerebellar damage report attention deficits while right cerebellar damage can lead to disrupted language skills. [<a href='#ref-13'>13</a>]</p>
<p>Since the cerebellum plays a role in cognition and emotion, cerebellar dysfunction also contributes to non-motor conditions such as certain neurodevelopmental disorders e.g. autism spectrum disorders. [<a href='#ref-14'>14</a>] Cerebellar abnormalities have been found in patients with ADHD, which is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Moreover neuroimaging studies show cerebellar differences in subjects with dyslexia. Dyslexic subjects have also shown a poorer performance on a variety of cerebellar motor tasks, which leads to the proposal that cerebellar dysfunction is a core neurobiological underpinning of dyslexia. It was found that early cerebellar damage leads to poorer outcomes than cerebellar damage in adulthood, which suggests that the cerebellum is important during development. [<a href='#ref-16'>16</a>]</p>
<p>Cerebellar damage caused by alcoholism specifically is one of the most common acquired forms of cerebellar ataxia. [<a href='#ref-17'>17</a>] The developing cerebellum is very sensitive to the toxic effects of alcohol. Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, a group of conditions occurring when the mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy show many symptoms of cerebellar dysfunction. [<a href='#ref-18'>18</a>]</p>
</section>
<section class='column col-12'>
<h2 id='assessment'>How to assess your Cerebellum function?</h2>
<h4>Neuropsychological and Medical Tests</h4>
<p>Since damage to the cerebellum impairs the ability to control motor movements clinical signs can be detected that occur throughout the body. In an examination of a patient the gait, posture and speech of the patient would be observed. [<a href='#ref-19'>19</a>] Patients with damage to the cerebellum may have abnormal posture and a broad-based gait. When scanning the speech an enunciation of individual syllables may occur. Nystagmus, abnormal eye movements can be detected by asking the patient to follow the movement of the examiner's finger. [<a href='#ref-20'>20</a>]</p>
<p>In the Finger to nose & finger to finger test the patient is first asked to fully extend the arm and then touch their nose and secondly asked to touch the examiner's finger and then their nose. The difficulty of this test can be increased by adding resistance to the patient's movements. Checking for rapid alternating movements is another way of detecting cerebellum damage. In this task the patient is asked to place one hand over the next and have them flip one hand back and forth as fast as possible. Patients with cerebellar damage show abnormalities in this task. The Rebound phenomenon (of Stewart & Holmes) is a test where the patient pulls on the examiners hand until they slip the hand out of their grasp. Normally the muscles would contract and stop their arm from moving further. Patients with cerebellar damage are unable to quickly stop their arm from moving in the desired direction.
Hypotonia is a condition that can be observed when checking the knee reflex. When the leg keeps swinging after the knee reflex is tested for more than 4 times this suggests damage to the cerebellum. [<a href='#ref-20'>20</a>]</p>
<div class='text-center video-container'>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Imu1kk_gOKA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<h4>Assessment through Neuroimaging</h4>
<p>Magnetic resonance imaging is another way of detecting cerebellar damage. Alcoholic cerebellar degeneration is a cause for cerebellar atrophy which is a reduction of cerebellar volume and connections. [<a href='#ref-21'>21</a>] This cerebellar volume loss can be detected with neuroimaging techniques and can occur even in the absence of clinical signals such as ataxia. Cerebellar shrinkage occurs mostly for older alcoholics with at least a 10-year duration of alcoholism. [<a href='#ref-22'>22</a>]</p>
</section>
<section class='column col-12'>
<h2 id='treatment-and-rehab'>Treatment and Rehabilitation</h2>
<p>The best treatments for mitigating the effects of alcohol abuse on your body are abstinence, medication, motor and cognitive training and therapeutic counselling. Abstinence from alcohol is the quickest path to recovery as it frees the body of all toxic residues. Abstinence from alcohol may cause intense withdrawal symptoms that can last a few days. Alcoholics normally experience significant signs of improvement on their cognitive tests once the withdrawal period is over. For instance, verbal processing is one of the first areas of cognitive functioning to be fully resumed compared to others (within the first three weeks). The rate of recovery may vary according to various different factors such as the age of the patient or the type of cognitive function required for fulfilling a task. The recovery time for restoring all cognitive functions to normal may vary between weeks, months or even years. In some cases, patients with alcohol addiction may never fully recover their cognitive functions such as multitasking, attention span, decision making, self-restraint, emotion recognition etc. [<a href='#ref-9'>9</a>]</p>
<p>Recovery may not occur at a regular steady rate, so it is necessary to measure their overall cognitive and motor performance on a regular basis (two times per week for instance). The age of alcohol addicts is a crucial factor for measuring the rate of their recovery processes. In the case of younger alcoholics (40 or under), they will show significant recovery of all cognitive skills except for slight cognitive delays in extremely challenging tasks. Despite showing steady and progressive improvements on their cognitive tests, older alcoholics will nevertheless manifest considerable deficits over a longer time span in problem-solving and visuospatial activities Most research studies suggest that there is no correlation between the alcoholics drinking history and the rate of its recovery. Moreover, chronic alcoholics with more than 10 years of heavy drinking are not likely to experience slower recovery processes or more permanent damage to their cognitive systems than those who have no or little drinking history. In this respect, it is important to note how relapse to alcohol addiction after an indefinite period of sobriety is not necessarily contingent on the alcoholics drinking history [<a href='#ref-9'>9</a>]</p>
<p>Recovery may not occur at a regular steady rate, so it is necessary to measure their overall cognitive and motor performance on a regular basis (two times per week for instance). The age of alcohol addicts is a crucial factor for measuring the rate of their recovery processes. In the case of younger alcoholics (40 or under), they will show significant recovery of all cognitive skills except for slight cognitive delays in extremely challenging tasks. Despite showing steady and progressive improvements on their cognitive tests, older alcoholics will nevertheless manifest considerable deficits over a longer time span in problem-solving and visuospatial activities Most research studies suggest that there is no correlation between the alcoholics drinking history and the rate of its recovery. Moreover, chronic alcoholics with more than 10 years of heavy drinking are not likely to experience slower recovery processes or more permanent damage to their cognitive systems than those who have no or little drinking history. In this respect, it is important to note how relapse to alcohol addiction after an indefinite period of sobriety is not necessarily contingent on the alcoholics drinking history [<a href='#ref-9'>9</a>]</p>
<p>There is no actual medicine that can cure alcohol-related disorders completely but they can contribute to making alcohol undesirable. For instance, Acamprosate, Disulfiram and Naltrxone are all types of drugs that help reduce the yearning for alcohol as well as prevent the effects of a fall back. To be clear, the taste or smell of alcohol will make the patient feel nauseous and revolting. [<a href='#ref-10'>10</a>, <a href='#ref-11'>11</a>]</p>
<p>Research conducted from Klintsova and other colleagues measured the ability of rats with alcohol exposure to perform certain motor exercises like rope climbing as part of their motor training program within a period of 6 months. “These results suggest that complex motor skill learning improves some of the motor performance deficits produced by postnatal exposure to alcohol and can potentially serve as a model for rehabilitative intervention” [<a href='#ref-12'>12</a>]. Hence, the effects of motor training on rats could be useful for improving motor skills in patients with cerebellar dysfunction. For example, athletes and musicians with alcohol related cerebellar damage can aim at fully recovering their coordinated movements if they undertake such motor training processes. [<a href='#ref-9'>9</a>]</p>
<p>Research conducted from Klintsova and other colleagues measured the ability of rats with alcohol exposure to perform certain motor exercises like rope climbing as part of their motor training program within a period of 6 months. “These results suggest that complex motor skill learning improves some of the motor performance deficits produced by postnatal exposure to alcohol and can potentially serve as a model for rehabilitative intervention” [<a href='#ref-9'>9</a>]. Hence, the effects of motor training on rats could be useful for improving motor skills in patients with cerebellar dysfunction. For example, athletes and musicians with alcohol related cerebellar damage can aim at fully recovering their coordinated movements if they undertake such motor training processes.</p>
<p>Therapeutic counselling is crucial for regaining the cognitive and motor skills as they were prior to addiction. A counsellor also gives you valuable advice for staying sober in the long run. Alcohol addiction may have a strong impact on your family relations that the patient will need to seek for therapy in a rehab institution. This is why it is important to build a network of close friends that can boost your self-esteem. In this respect, a friendly environment helps the patient face the effects of a possible relapse with greater confidence. There are two types of counselling: in-patient and out-patient. The former is the best form of treatment for the patients that are not able to reduce the levels of alcohol by themselves. They are constantly monitored and guided throughout their rehabilitation. Out-patient rehab is rather meant for those people that have control over their mental health as they show milder symptoms [<a href='#ref-11'>11</a>].</p>
</section>
<section class='column col-12 references'>
<h2>References</h2>
<ol>
<li id='ref-1'>Crichton, R., & Ward, R. (2013). Metal-based neurodegeneration: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic strategies. John Wiley & Sons. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118553480.ch12">https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118553480.ch12</a></li>
<li id='ref-2'>Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network. Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019) Results. Seattle, United States: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), 2020. Available from <a href="http://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool">http://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool</a></li>
<li id='ref-3'>Holmes, G. (1939). The cerebellum of man. Brain, 62(1), 1-30. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/62.1.1">https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/62.1.1</a></li>
<li id='ref-4'>Schmahmann, J. D. (2019). The cerebellum and cognition. Neuroscience letters, 688, 62-75. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2018.07.005">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2018.07.005</a></li>
<li id='ref-5'>Purves, D., Augustine, G. J., Fitzpatrick, D., Hall, W. C., LaMantia, A. S., &amp; White, L. E. (2011). Neuroscience, 5th edn. Sunderland, MA. pp. 417423.</li>
<li id='ref-6'>Ghez, C. (1985). Fahn S. The cerebellum. Principles of neural science, 2nd edition. pp. 502522</li>
<li id='ref-7'>Sullivan, E. V., Rosenbloom, M. J., Deshmukh, A., Desmond, J. E., & Pfefferbaum, A. (1995). Alcohol and the Cerebellum: Effects on Balance, Motor Coordination, and Cognition. Alcohol health and research world, 19(2), 138141.</li>
<li id='ref-8'>How Alcohol Compounds Its Damage to the Brain. (2020, November 23). Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/alcohol-compounds-its-damage-to-the-brain-62747</li>
<li id='ref-9'>Goldman, M. S., Klisz, D. K., &amp; Williams, D. L. (1985). Experience-dependent recovery of cognitive functioning in young alcoholics. Addictive Behaviors, 10(2), 169176. &lt;a href=&quot;https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4603(85)90023-1&quot;&gt;https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4603(85)90023-1&lt;/a&gt;</li>
<li id='ref-10'>Bezrutczyk, D. (2021, October 14). Alcohol-Related Brain Damage. Alcohol Rehab Guide. &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/resources/medical-conditions/alcohol-related-brain-damage/#&quot;&gt;https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/resources/medical-conditions/alcohol-related-brain-damage/#&lt;/a&gt;</li>
<li id='ref-11'>Griffin, M. R. (2017, August 16). What Are the Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder? &lt;a href=&quot;http://WebMD.https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/alcohol-use-disorder-treatments#2&quot;&gt;WebMD.https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/alcohol-use-disorder-treatments#2&lt;/a&gt;</li>
<li id='ref-12'>Klintsova, A. Y., Cowell, R. M., Swain, R. A., Napper, R. M., Goodlett, C. R., &amp; Greenough, W. T. (1998). Therapeutic effects of complex motor training on motor performance deficits induced by neonatal binge-like alcohol exposure in rats. Brain Research, 800(1), 4861. &lt;a href=&quot;https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-8993(98)00495-8&quot;&gt;https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-8993(98)00495-8&lt;/a&gt;</li>
<li id='ref-13'>Baillieux, H.; De smet, H. J.; Dobbeleir, A.; Paquier, P. F.; De Deyn, P; Mariën, P. (2010). Cognitive and affective disturbances following focal cerebellar damage in adults: A neuropsychological and SPECT study. CORTEX, 46, 869-897.</li>
<li id='ref-14'>Reeber, Stacey ; Otis, Tom ; Sillitoe, Roy (2013) New roles for the cerebellum in health and disease. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 14, 1662-5137.</li>
<li id='ref-15'>NIH Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (2014) Cerebellar Degeneration, Assesed: 05.11.2021</li>
<li id='ref-16'>Stoodley C. J. (2016). The Cerebellum and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Cerebellum (London, England), 15(1), 3437. &lt;a href=&quot;https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-015-0715-3&quot;&gt;https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-015-0715-3&lt;/a&gt;</li>
<li id='ref-17'>Shanmugarajah, P.D., Hoggard, N., Currie, S. et al. Alcohol-related cerebellar degeneration: not all down to toxicity?. cerebellum ataxias 3, 17 (2016). &lt;a href=&quot;https://doi.org/10.1186/s40673-016-0055-1&quot;&gt;https://doi.org/10.1186/s40673-016-0055-1&lt;/a&gt;</li>
<li id='ref-18'>Luo J. (2015). Effects of Ethanol on the Cerebellum: Advances and Prospects. Cerebellum (London, England), 14(4), 383385. &lt;a href=&quot;https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-015-0674-8&quot;&gt;https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-015-0674-8&lt;/a&gt;</li>
<li id='ref-19'>Bargiela, David. Cerebellar examination. URL: &lt;a href=&quot;https://geekymedics.com/cerebellar-examination-osce-guide/&quot;&gt;https://geekymedics.com/cerebellar-examination-osce-guide/&lt;/a&gt; Assessed 05.11.2021</li>
<li id='ref-20'>Stanford Medicine 25 (2014) Introduction to the Cerebellar Exam. URL: &lt;a href=&quot;https://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/the25/cerebellar.html&quot;&gt;https://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/the25/cerebellar.html&lt;/a&gt; Assessed 05.11.2021</li>
<li id='ref-21'>Arora R. (2015). Imaging spectrum of cerebellar pathologies: a pictorial essay. Polish journal of radiology, 80, 142150. &lt;a href=&quot;https://doi.org/10.12659/PJR.892878&quot;&gt;https://doi.org/10.12659/PJR.892878&lt;/a&gt;</li>
<li id='ref-22'>Sullivan, E. V., Rosenbloom, M. J., Deshmukh, A., Desmond, J. E., &amp; Pfefferbaum, A. (1995). Alcohol and the Cerebellum: Effects on Balance, Motor Coordination, and Cognition. Alcohol health and research world, 19(2), 138141.</li>
</ol>
</section>
</main>
</body>
<script src='javascript/deps/anime.min.js'></script>
<script src='javascript/deps/lodash.min.js'></script>
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/Chart.js/3.5.1/chart.min.js" integrity="sha512-Wt1bJGtlnMtGP0dqNFH1xlkLBNpEodaiQ8ZN5JLA5wpc1sUlk/O5uuOMNgvzddzkpvZ9GLyYNa8w2s7rqiTk5Q==" crossorigin="anonymous" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></script>
<script src="javascript/alcohol-use-disorder.js"></script>
<script src='javascript/main.js'></script>
<script src="javascript/deps/three.js"></script>
<script src="javascript/deps/GLTFLoader.js"></script>
<script src="javascript/deps/OrbitControls.js"></script>
<script src="javascript/brain.js"></script>
</html>