Alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD): what is it and who gets it?

Alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) is a brain disorder. It is caused by a person regularly drinking heavily for several years.

Severe ARBD is not strictly a type of dementia even though its symptoms can be similar. This is because it doesn’t continue to get worse if a person stops drinking and receives treatment. It’s more like a brain injury, and is sometimes called alcohol-related brain injury (ARBI).

What are the symptoms of ARBD?

Some people with ARBD have mild problems with memory and thinking. They may still be able to do most essential daily tasks. However, they are at risk of more serious brain damage if they continue to drink alcohol. 

ARBD can cause severe problems with memory and thinking. This can make it hard for a person to look after themselves and as a result they become very unwell. 

Severe ARBD can have symptoms that look like dementia. However because dementia is a progressive condition it will always get worse. In comparison, a person with ARBD can get better if they are supported to stop drinking. This will involve treatment and rehabilitation. 

A person who has ARBD will usually be addicted to alcohol. This means that they have become physically and psychologically dependent on it. They will start to feel very ill if they suddenly stop drinking. 

Anyone who may have ARBD should not try to stop drinking by themselves without proper medical support.

The ARBD Network is a charitable organisation for people with ARBD. They're able to provide the support they need for their brain injury and their alcohol addiction to help them get back to living independently. 

How is ARBD different from dementia?

ARBD doesn’t always get worse over time, unlike common causes of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. If a person with ARBD stops drinking alcohol and receives good support, they may be able to make a partial or even full recovery. They may regain much of their memory and thinking skills, and their ability to do things independently. 

You may hear about Alcohol-related ‘dementia’ but, even though the symptoms are similar, no form of ARBD is a type of dementia.

Who gets ARBD? 

It’s estimated that around one in three people with alcohol dependence have some level of ARBD.

• ARBD affects people who have been drinking too much alcohol for a long time. Many of them will not be aware of it.
• People who are diagnosed with ARBD are usually aged between about 40 and 60. This is much younger than most people who develop progressive dementias, such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is not clear why some people who drink too much alcohol develop ARBD, while others do not.
• ARBD affects more men than women. This is because men are more likely to drink heavily.

Types of ARBD

Usually a person is diagnosed with a specific type of ARBD. This will be based on their symptoms, indicating they may have one of several conditions:

• A traumatic brain injury
• An alcohol-related stroke

• Wernicke-Korsakoff’s syndrome
  This is a very severe form of ARBD. It is caused by a lack of an essential vitamin, known as ‘thiamine’. It happens when someone drinks so much alcohol that their gut can no longer absorb enough thiamine from their food.

  People addicted to alcohol tend to eat a very poor diet. This means that they don’t get enough vitamins to meet their needs. Damage to the brain caused by this condition can sometimes be permanent.