Ethanol alters brain function by targeting proteins involved in synaptic

transmission throughout the brain. What are these neurotransmitters and briefly
explain.

Alcohol is a powerful drug that affects the central nervous system (CNS). Ethanol being
the most commonly consumed type of alcohol in different alcoholic beverages with varying
percentages. It has effects on many of the neurotransmitters in the brain such as acetylcholine,
biogenic amines and amino acid neurotransmitters. Some of the neurological pathways known
to be affected includes dopaminergic, serotoninergic, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and
glutamate pathways. With its ability to cause the release of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and
acts primarily at the GABAA receptors. GABA being the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in
the brain and is associated with the sedative effects of ethanol.

Alzheimer’s disease, a brain disease that is usually age-related and is the most
common cause of declining intellectual function in late life is said to be
associated with a neurotransmitter. What is the neurotransmitter and explain.

The neurotransmitter associated with Alzheimer’s disease is acetylcholine. Alzheimer’s

disease is a brain disease that is usually age-related and is the most common cause of
declining intellectual function in late life. This happens due to the degeneration of the neurons
associated with the acetylcholine system. The decrease in the amount of acetylcholine in certain
areas of the brain and the loss of the postsynaptic neurons that should have responded is due
to the degeneration of cholinergic neurons.