Question

How long does it take for alcohol to reach the brain?

Answer 1

The human brain, a three-pound organ, is the source of intellect, the interpreter of the senses, the initiator of physical movements, and the controller of actions. Lying in its bone shell and cleaned by a protective fluid, the brain is the source of all the attributes that characterise our humanity. The brain is a gem of the crown of the human body.

Complete answer:
Alcohol is associated with a number of known cognitive changes, such as lack of inhibition, distracted or abnormal behavior, and poor decision-making. Alcohol starts to affect the brain of a person as soon as it reaches the bloodstream. In the case of a healthy person, the liver easily filters alcohol, allowing the body to get rid of the drug. However, when a person drinks too much, the liver cannot filter alcohol quickly, and this induces immediate changes in the brain. Consistent alcohol consumption can result in long-term damage. Over time, heavy drinking can lead to issues with mental health, such as depression and anxiety. Alcohol consumption can lead to an increased risk of some forms of cancer, as well as serious brain damage.

If the alcohol has been consumed, it reaches the stomach. As a normal small metabolite, it does not require digestion and passes along the stomach line to be absorbed instantly in the bloodstream. The rate at which this happens varies for everyone and depends on a variety of physiological factors: the amount of alcohol consumed at first ingestion, the nature of the alcoholic beverage, gender, stomach lining, stomach content (food), current blood composition, the presence of prescription medications, body weight, etc. As the heart pumps our total volume of blood around in nearly one minute, it could take around 30 seconds for the first alcohol molecules to cross the Brain-Blood Barrier and impact the neurons.

Note: The impact is insignificant at first, but due to the low concentration and with the passing of minutes it becomes more and more apparent. In 2009, a research conducted by a group at the University of Heidelberg recorded a significant impact within six minutes.