{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhealth-matters.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fhow-does-alcohol-change-your-brain-QYh8U1Ev","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"How Does Alcohol Change Your Brain?","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/261e0c39-021d-4f7f-ad90-c6c6d26f9479/371e6d67-ac0d-44b8-b9a6-ec3c1d19226d/showcover_showhealth_matters_copy.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/162c3088-31d0-4e59-b5fe-67fb741db8bd\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"How Does Alcohol Change Your Brain?\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"In this episode of Health Matters, host Courtney Allison speaks with Dr. Hugh Cahill, a neurologist at NewYork-Presbyterian the One and Columbia, about how alcohol affects the brain. They explore how alcohol alters neurotransmitters to create short-term feelings of relaxation and euphoria, but over time can lead to increased risk for brain atrophy, memory problems, mood disorders, vascular damage, and dementia. Dr. Cahill explains that even moderate drinking is associated with measurable brain changes, and that the effects are cumulative across a lifetime. He emphasizes that protecting brain health involves reducing alcohol intake, exercising regularly, managing cardiovascular risk factors, maintaining proper nutrition (especially B vitamins), and prioritizing sleep."}