Do Brain Cells Regenerate After Alcohol? The Surprising Truth

What Happens to Your Brain When You Drink?

Alright, let’s get real. When you drink — especially heavy or binge drinking — your brain takes a beating. (And I'm not just being dramatic here.) Alcohol messes with the communication between neurons, shrinks brain tissue, and can cause permanent damage over time.

Quick story: I was chatting with my buddy Mike last week — he’s a nurse, super chill guy — and he told me about a patient who literally forgot half his family’s names after a lifetime of heavy drinking. Wild, right?

But here’s the kicker: the brain is not totally helpless. Some parts can actually bounce back. It’s just... way slower than you'd hope.

Neurogenesis: Can New Brain Cells Grow After Damage?

Understanding the Basics of Neurogenesis

So here's the million-dollar word: neurogenesis. It means the creation of new neurons. Scientists used to think adults couldn't grow new brain cells at all. (Yeah, like once you hit 25, it was all downhill.)

But now we know that in areas like the hippocampus — the part of your brain handling memory and learning — new neurons can still form. Even later in life!

The catch? Heavy alcohol use suppresses neurogenesis. Big time. If you’re drinking heavily, you’re basically putting a huge "STOP" sign in front of new brain cells.

Does Quitting Alcohol Help Brain Cells Recover?

Good news? (Finally.) Yes, quitting alcohol can help your brain start to heal itself. Studies show that after a few months of sobriety, the brain increases neurogenesis, particularly in the hippocampus.

I gotta admit something here — I used to think quitting drinking would fix everything instantly. Like, one month sober and poof! Genius mode activated. But no. It's a slow and uneven process.

• First 2 weeks: Brain fog might still be awful. (Trust me, I've been there.)

• After 1-3 months: Cognitive functions like memory and problem-solving get noticeably better.

• 6 months and beyond: Structural changes start showing up on brain scans — like legit new growth!

Mike also mentioned that nutrition, exercise, and sleep massively speed up recovery. (He swears by blueberries and fish oil, lol.)

What About Permanent Damage? Is It Too Late?

Here’s where it gets messy. Some brain damage from alcohol is irreversible. Especially if you developed something like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (a severe brain disorder linked to vitamin B1 deficiency).

In cases like that, no amount of healthy living can bring certain lost memories or abilities back. It’s heartbreaking, honestly.

But — and this is huge — if you quit drinking before major damage sets in, your brain has a crazy impressive ability to adapt. Neuroplasticity (another big science word for you) allows your brain to rewire itself.

I used to believe that one bad year of partying had ruined me forever... but turns out, our brains are way tougher than we think. You just gotta give them a fighting chance.

My Final Thoughts (And a Little Reality Check)

Honestly? When I first dug into this topic, I thought it was all doom and gloom. Like, drink = dead brain, end of story. But after hearing real experiences — and feeling it myself during a sober period — I get it now: your brain can heal, just not overnight.

If you're asking yourself, "Have I already screwed up my brain?" — man, I get it. I’ve been there too. And the answer is almost always: it's not too late.

Just... don't wait forever to make the change, you know?

If you want, I can also share some tips on easy brain-boosting habits I picked up (some were kinda ridiculous but actually worked lol). Just let me know!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.