And that affects the brain for the students. U.S. Department of Health& Human Services, National Institutes of Health National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explained that a person who drinks heavily over a long period of time may have brain deficits that persist well after he or she achieves sobriety. Exactly how alcohol affects the brain and the likelihood of reversing the impact of heavy drinking on the brain continue hot topics in alcohol explore today. We do know that heavy drinking may have expanded and far–reaching effects on the brain, ranging from simple “slips” in memory to permanent and debilitating conditions that need lifetime custodial care.