A sudden increase in blood alcohol levels causes blackouts, which alters the neurons in the hippocampus. When this happens, it hinders a person's capacity to recall current events, discussions, and so on. Also, people who drink heavily may be at higher risk for injuries due to mistakes they make while driving. The brain is very sensitive to alcohol. Even small amounts of it can have serious effects. It affects everyone differently- some people can handle much more than others. The best thing you can do if you want to avoid having problems with alcohol is to find out your own personal limit. Never drive after drinking- no matter how many drinks you've had! The next day, you might not remember anything from the night before. You might even think that something terrible happened when, actually, you just don't remember certain things that took place. Alcohol impairs your memory, especially if you drink any amount of it within several hours of going to bed. While there are medications that can help prevent blackouts, they only work for some people. If you're one of them, then you should definitely use them. But if you're like most people, then they won't help you. In this case, learning how alcohol affects the hippocampus could come in handy.