Question: Alcohol affects the balance. Can someone who stopped drinking a good many years ago still suffer from balance problems as a result of earlier alcohol consumption?

Mieke

Answer: In certain well-defined circumstances, yes, it is indeed possible that balance problems will persist after alcohol consumption. during earlier life. It all depends on the quantity, the duration and, above all, the age at which alcohol was consumed in excessive amounts. If an adult stops drinking to excess, the inconvenient balance problems will normally disappear. However, it is a different kettle of fish if you drank to excess when you were young, before your brain had a chance to complete its development. The brain is a complex of about one hundred thousand million nerve cells that form innumerable interconnections, especially during the childhood years and puberty, during which time the foundations of the normal balanced brain activity of adult is laid. Too much alcohol embarrasses this process, with the risk of later disturbance of the brain function and, possibly also, the sense of balance in which the brain is such an important factor. There may of course also be other causes for balance problems. All the more reason to consult your general practitioner in case of persistent problems.