Frequent blackouts from alcohol, what are the effects on the brain, and are they permanent?

When I first started drinking, I never had blackouts, but they have become more frequent. I’m 20 and have been drinking heavily in college, maybe experiencing two blackouts a month. I’ve noticed a decline in my cognitive abilities and alertness. If someone quits drinking, does the brain recover, or are the effects permanent? What are the effects of alcohol on the brain? I don’t drink often but do blackout pretty much always when i drink (or drink till I pass out)