Researchers at Stanford University in the United States reported that it can take roughly seven months for the brain to recover after ceasing binge drinking. The findings were shared in a magazine focused on Alcohol research.
People who struggle with alcohol use disorder often show impaired higher cognitive functions, which are linked to thinning in regions of the cerebral cortex. Earlier work has indicated that some brain areas may rebound after drinking ends, but the timeline for this recovery has remained unclear.
The study examined MRI scans from forty individuals undergoing treatment for alcoholism. Scans were conducted at three intervals: about one week after abstinence, around one month, and approximately seven and a quarter months later.
Notably, the cortex showed the most significant signs of restoration around the seven-month mark from the start of abstinence. By the end of this period, brain scans in twenty-four of the thirty-four evaluable cases appeared to reach a level comparable to normal in those cortical regions. The most rapid gains occurred between the first week and the first month of sobriety, after which the pace of recovery tended to slow. The extent of improvement varied among individuals, with slower progress observed in people who had high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, or a history of smoking.
The researchers stressed the need for further work to determine whether the structural changes observed in the brain translate into functional improvements in everyday thinking and behavior.
Earlier investigations touched on how stem cell research using macaque models and embryonic tissue could inform understanding of brain repair mechanisms, illustrating the broader scientific context for exploring recovery after alcohol-related brain changes.