Question:
Does alcohol abuse lead to brain damage? If it does what kind of permanent and/or recoverable damage does it do. the very problem is that 'brain damage' is not recoverable, when speaking about cells (~neurons). Korsakov-syndrome (aphasia/confabulation)is a famous unrecoverable braindamage that often occurs with alcohol-abuse, although alcohol or ethyl-alcohol (ethanol) is not the direct cause. Much more direct damage is done at the liver, stomach, renal function and off course; the nervous system.

However, according to doctors like S.Pinker, our brain is much more like a huge 'muscle' or 'spounge' that when some parts are partly damaged, the upper layers of the brain (Gyros/cortex) 'learn' to compensate and parse the million of daily tasks, but a total reset is impossible. Think about blind people who develop a better sense of hearing and touch. Loosing 'neurons' (quite inapropriate term) is part of life, point. And if an alcohol abuser does resort to moderate drinking (say 4 drinks in a week) does the damage continue? Are there any medical/alternative ways to "resurrect" the brain to optimum functionality?

Answer: Alcohol does lead to brain damage. A curious thing: experts in the field of traumatic brain injury used to provide alcohol at their annual conventions (Brain Injury Association). Several years ago my daughter spoke out, at the convention, against this practice. It did not seem logical for such people to be promoting brain damage. They immediately stopped the practice. I believe conventioneers are allowed their alcohol, but they have to provide their own.

My daughter now owns two adult family homes for persons with brain injury. We have worked with many people including one who had a "complete" lobotomy. He was an interesting guy but he just couldn't understand the program - of life. There appeared to be no hope that he ever will.