Alcoholics should consume lots of anti-oxidants, for their presence will aid in reducing the oxidation of dopamine by acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde builds up in the bloodstream from the detoxification of ethanol, which will slowly oxidize the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain causing neuronal damage from long term chronic alcoholism. The neuronal damage in alcoholics generally leads to a depleated hippocampus which is responsible for translating short term memory information in the brain into the long term memory.