What is a consequence of excessive alcohol consumption?

Excessive alcohol consumption is known to have numerous detrimental effects on health, and one significant consequence is liver disease. The liver is responsible for metabolizing alcohol, and when an individual drinks excessively, the liver can become overwhelmed. This can lead to conditions such as fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and eventually cirrhosis, which is the severe scarring and damage to the liver. The liver plays a crucial role in detoxifying harmful substances, and chronic alcohol intake can severely impair its function, leading to serious health complications.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately reflect the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Improved cognitive function and enhanced memory retention are not seen with heavy drinking; rather, excessive alcohol typically leads to cognitive impairments. Additionally, nerve cell damage is likely to increase, rather than decrease, with high levels of alcohol consumption. Thus, liver disease is a well-documented and serious consequence of excessive alcohol intake.