Do hangovers damage the brain?
Ask the doctor
With the holidays coming, I may be tempted to drink more than usual — maybe enough to have a hangover the next morning. I'm wondering if a hangover could actually damage my brain.First, here's how they defined a hangover: mental and physical symptoms, experienced the day after a single episode of heavy drinking, starting when blood alcohol concentration approaches zero. So, by definition, during a hangover you no longer are inebriated. After reviewing 11 studies, the scientists concluded that during a hangover the ability to focus is impaired. So are short-term and long-term memory — particularly long-term memory of things that occur during a hangover. Also impaired is something called psychomotor speed — the speed with which the brain tells the body to move. This affects activities like driving a car. Indeed, studies of simulated driving in people who are suffering a hangover (and therefore are no longer inebriated) have found that driving is impaired.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.