Ever wondered if those post-party hangovers do anything to our brains? Well, some scientists were curious too and dug into over 1,100 studies to find out. They shared their findings in a journal called Addiction on August 25, so let's break it down.
First off, they defined a hangover as the mental and physical aftermath you feel the day after a night of heavy drinking, once your blood alcohol level is close to zero. Basically, when the party's over, and you're no longer tipsy. After checking out 11 studies, the scientists concluded that during a hangover, your ability to focus takes a hit. Your short-term and long-term memory get a bit foggy too, especially when it comes to remembering stuff that happened during the hangover. They also found that something called "psychomotor speed" gets slowed down – that's how quickly your brain tells your body to move. So, doing things like driving might not be as sharp during a hangover.
Now, here's the big question: Can having hangovers from regular heavy drinking actually mess with your brain permanently? I tried to find studies on this, but no luck. Still, I'd say it's a good idea to be cautious during the holidays and not overdo it. Let's keep our brains in tip-top shape!
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