The brain can be damaged by persistent over use of alcohol even though the user may not feel intoxicated. In what has been described as a "pickled walnut" effect, of globalised atrophy of the brain, MRI scans show a shrunken brain with extra fluid out it. Alcohol abuse can lead to vitamin B deficiency which may cause significant memory deficits. The quantity of alcohol required to cause serious damage is different for each person and genetic factors play a role. For some families the leading organ damaged may be the liver, for others it may be the heart or the brain. The results of current research were presented by Dr Daglish , Director of Addiction Psychiatry at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital a Health Care Symposium on 13th October 2009.
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