Tag: Brain damage

First described in 1903, Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a rare neurological disorder often linked to chronic alcoholism and severe malnutrition. This devastating condition is primarily driven by a significant deficiency in B-complex vitamins, particularly thiamine, leading to progressive demyelination and necrosis of the brain's corpus callosum.

According to UNICEF, malnutrition contributes to 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age, severely impacting brain development. Malnutrition negatively impacts both the structure and function of the brain by depriving it of the essential building blocks and energy needed for optimal operation. This can cause a range of psychological, cognitive, and physical problems in both children and adults.

According to the World Health Organization, undernutrition is a contributing factor in nearly half of deaths among children under five. This stark statistic reveals how much damage starvation does to the human body, initiating a catastrophic multi-stage process that degrades physical and mental health over time.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, with risks starting from the very first drop. Understanding why is ethanol so bad for you involves recognizing its classification as a Group 1 carcinogen and its toxic effects on nearly every organ and system in the body.

Approximately 60% of the adult human body is water, a fact underscoring its absolute necessity for survival. This essential fluid governs countless bodily functions, from regulating temperature to transporting nutrients. So, what happens if we never drink water and what are the catastrophic consequences of severe dehydration?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance. Given its harmful effects on health, the classification is clear: does alcohol count as a toxin? A deeper look into the body's metabolic processes reveals the undeniable answer.

Up to 80% of individuals with chronic alcohol abuse suffer from thiamine deficiency, making thiamine (vitamin B1) the most critical vitamin depleted in an alcoholic patient. This deficiency is a leading cause of severe neurological complications, including Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition. The depletion is caused by multiple factors, including poor dietary intake, reduced absorption, and impaired utilization of the vitamin.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), iodine deficiency remains the world's most common cause of preventable brain damage and intellectual disability. This critical mineral is essential for producing thyroid hormones, which are vital for healthy brain development from the fetal stage through early childhood. The consequences of iodine deficiency can be severe and, in many cases, irreversible if not addressed promptly.

According to the World Health Organization, alcohol consumption was responsible for 2.6 million deaths worldwide in 2019. This highlights the severe risks associated with heavy drinking and makes understanding which of the following is a potential physical effect of long-term alcohol abuse critically important. The answer is complex, involving multiple organ systems across the body.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 billion people worldwide are at risk of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD). Iodine deficiency is the largest cause of preventable brain damage and impaired psychomotor development, primarily affecting populations in developing countries with poor access to iodine-rich food sources. This devastating but easily preventable condition undermines human potential and perpetuates cycles of poverty.