Can occasional binge drinking cause permanent brain damage? Cause it’s definitely getting harder to drink with age.

As a 29-year-old who only “”occasionally”” binge drinks, I have often wondered about the effects it might have on my brain, considering what actual alcoholism does to people’s bodies. Weekends with colleagues, Friday nights out with my gf, or seeing my family and drinking shouldn’t seem that bad, but as I feel worse and worse every time I do (when I drink, I do it for real), I’m thinking it could still cause permanent damage to my brain.

After a few Google searches (how else would I start), this article at least suggests that occasional binge drinking can cause even more damage to the brain and that this damage can be permanent – https://sunlightrecovery.com/risks-permanent-brain-damage-drinking/. I also found two other sources, including a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, which found that even moderate levels of alcohol consumption do damage over time, and another article on Forbes (!), basically confirming it.

Personally, I have noticed that the effects of binge drinking are getting worse as I get older. I know this sounds familiar, but it’s still true that I could drink all night and still feel fine the next day, 5-10 years ago. But now, even a few drinks can leave me feeling foggy-headed and exhausted.

I think it’s important for people to be aware of the risks associated with binge drinking, even if they don’t drink every day. While it might seem harmless, research varies between saying it’s just that bad or even worse. That being said, I don’t think we need to completely abstain from alcohol, but I’m curious to hear what others think about this topic.

Have you noticed any effects on your brain from occasional binge drinking? What steps do you take to either alleviate these symptoms or find ways to not overdo it and be more “”moderate”” with binging alcohol?

Hope to hear your stories here, and thanks for reading!