Home > Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders > Alcohol-related Neurological Disease

Definition

Alcohol-related neurological disease represents a broad spectrum of conditions caused by acute or chronic alcohol intake.

Description

Alcohol, or ethanol, is a poisonous chemical that has direct and toxic effects on nerve and muscle cells. The effects can be profound, and symptoms can include incoordination, weakness, seizures, memory loss, and sensory deficits. Alcohol has a profoundly negative effect on both the central nervous system (i.e., the brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (i.e., nerves that send impulses to peripheral structures such as muscles and organs). Alcohol can have negative effects on...