If you want to keep your brain working well as you age goes on, a new study makes the case to eliminate alcohol consumption as soon as you can. The recent study found that a single drink can have lasting effects on the cellular function of the brain.

A study published in PNAS suggests that a single alcoholic drink can have long-term effects on mitochondrial function in brain cells. These plastic changes to the brain are acute and long lasting. Mitochondria are responsible for energy production and cellular processes in the human bod and this appears to be significantly affected by alcohol consumption.

The study, conducted on mice and fruit flies, two species often used for modeling the human brain, revealed that alcohol disrupted the expression of genes related to mitochondrial function, leading to decreased energy production and impaired cellular metabolism. 

These changes persisted beyond the duration of alcohol’s presence in the body. Such alcohol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in brain cells may contribute to cognitive impairment and the development of neurodegenerative diseases and, may be a leading contributor to alcohol dependency

Mitochondria are powerhouses of our cells. They produce energy in the form of ATP, which cells need to do their various functions inside the cells. Mitochondria break down food molecules to produce energy. They also help regulate metabolism and control calcium levels in cells.

Some more studies about the consumption of alcohol have explored its impact on mitochondrial function in different types of cells. One study suggested that the alcohol exposure reduced mitochondrial function in liver cells leading to liver damage.

It is remarkable that the cellular processes contributing to such complex reward behavior are conserved across species, suggesting a similar role in humans. It could be a possible general cellular process essential for learning and memory.

Both of the observed mechanisms could explain observations made in mice that a single intoxication experience can increase alcohol consumption and alcohol relapse later in life.

These mechanisms may even be relevant to the observation in humans that the first alcohol intoxication at an early age is a critical risk factor for later alcohol intoxication and the development of alcohol addiction.

One study explained that alcohol disturbance mitochondrial dynamics in cardio muscle cells, which could contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction in case of excessive drinking.

All those studies emphasize the how harmful is alcoholic drinks on mitochondrial function, including brain, liver and heart cells. Those studies find underscore the importance of considering the long term effects of alcohol consumption in human body.