알코올 일과성 기억상실 블랙아웃과 알코올 관련 신경인지장애

Alcohol induced transient memory loss blackout and alcohol-related neurocognitive disorder

Alcohol, characterized by both polar and non-polar properties, is a Group 1 carcinogen capable of freely crossing cellular membranes, including the blood-brain barrier. Through its intrinsic cytotoxicity and the genotoxic effects of its primary metabolite, acetaldehyde, alcohol exerts widespread impact on the nervous system and cognitive function. Given the growing elderly population and the sociocultural permissiveness toward alcohol use, a critical review of alcohol’s role in major neurocognitive disorders (NCD, also known as dementia) is warranted. This review focuses on the relationship between alcohol-induced transient memory impairment (i.e., blackouts) and major NCDs. Meta-analyses suggest that experiencing blackouts is associated with an increased prevalence of major NCD, underscoring the clinical importance of distinguishing alcohol-related dementia and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Furthermore, high-risk drinking is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for cognitive decline and early-onset NCM, while recent evidence challenges the previously held notion of a protective effect of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption. Based on these findings, alcohol should be considered a modifiable risk factor for major NCD, and public health interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing societal awareness are urgently needed.