Dehydration's Effects on the Brain

Are you drinking enough water? Dehydration can have serious effects on a person, affecting multiple systems in the body. But the long-term effects it can have on the brain are particularly scary.

Research has shown dehydration can cause impaired performance, depressed mood, memory problems and structural changes to the brain that can be visualized on an fMRI. Over time, those changes, which include reduced volumes of cerebrospinal fluid and blood circulation, may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Know the signs and make sure you’re doing all you can to protect yourself.

Dehydration and the Brain

You usually aren't aware that you need to drink water until you experience dry mouth or feel thirsty, but by then dehydration is already well underway. There’s no exact science to the amount of water any given person should drink. Experts agree it’s generally around a half a gallon each day, but individual needs vary depending on body composition and activity levels.

Regardless of personal requirements, the toll dehydration can take on the body can be severe. Even mild dehydration can have notable effects, such as reduced concentration and less effective performance. So, what exactly is going on up there? You might want to grab your water bottle and take a sip before we continue.

Dehydration and Cognitive Performance

How often do you suffer from brain fog? Did you know that could be a sign you’re dehydrated? The human body is around 60% to 70% water, but the brain is about 75% water. That’s a lot of structural integrity loss if you aren’t drinking enough.

A study in Cangzhou, China asked a dozen men not to drink any water for 36 hours, after which they had a day of regular food and water intake. While dehydrated, the men made more errors during cognitive performance tests, showing decreases in attention span, short-term memory and mental acuity. When rehydrated, the men reported fewer mood disturbances, and their reaction times and reading speeds increased. Of course, you're not going to go that long without water so your challenges may be smaller, making them harder to recognize as stemming form dehydration.

Visualizing Structural Changes in the Brain from Dehydration

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) readings from a recent study have shown dehydration can cause structural changes to the brain and reduced levels of cerebrospinal fluid. Dehydrated subjects took tests measuring accuracy and response time while undergoing a brain scan. They were given a button and instructions to respond to various visual stimuli during the brain scan. Researchers found a strong correlation between volume changes in numerous areas of the brain and reduced cognitive performance.

The long-term consequences of these structural changes could be most concerning. Research on dementia patients has shown a possible connection between dehydration and proteins misfolding and accumulating, which eventually could result in damage to the brain’s neurons and synapses. These findings suggest dehydration could worsen symptoms of cognitive decline, and possibly even be a risk factor in itself for the development of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Proper hydration is important for the entire body, but it’s vital for proper brain functioning. See what you can do to ensure you’re getting enough water every day, without fail. The effects of letting water intake slide could eventually catch up in devastating and possibly irreversible ways.

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