Health
Heavy Drinking in Later Life Linked to Increased Risk of Developing Dementia
Dementia, a condition defined by abnormal changes in the brain, continues to pose a growing health concern, particularly in ageing populations. Characterised by cognitive decline, memory loss, and mood changes, dementia severely impairs a person’s ability to carry out daily tasks.
While the condition itself is an umbrella term for various diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, new findings are drawing attention to the role alcohol consumption may play in increasing the risk of its onset.
Recent research, as reported by Surrey Live, suggests that drinking more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week may significantly raise an individual’s chances of developing dementia. Surprisingly, the study also found that people who abstained from drinking entirely were also at a higher risk.
Dr Sara Imarisio, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, cautioned that the relationship between alcohol and dementia is complex. “There’s a well-established link between heavy drinking and the risk of dementia, but it is difficult to say whether moderate alcohol intake has any impact on brain health when compared to not drinking at all,” she explained.
“Some non-drinkers may have a history of heavy alcohol use, and this makes it difficult to untangle links between drinking habits and health. This study only looked at people’s drinking in later life, and we don’t know about their drinking habits in their earlier years,” she added.
The study monitored over 3,000 American participants aged 72 and above who were dementia-free at the start. Participants tracked their alcohol intake and completed cognitive assessments over several years. Results showed that both excessive alcohol consumption and total abstinence were associated with increased dementia risk.
Dr Imarisio emphasized that “our lifestyle in middle age may have the greatest impact on our future risk of dementia.” She advised following the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines, which recommend no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread over several days with drink-free intervals, and a firm stance against binge drinking.
Highlighting other preventative measures, she said: “Dementia is caused by physical diseases of the brain, but there are things we can do to reduce the risk. Staying physically and mentally active, eating a healthy, balanced diet, not smoking, and keeping weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure in check are all good ways to keep the brain healthy as we age.”
Dementia UK further explains that alcohol-related brain damage is caused by long-term excessive drinking, leading to conditions such as Wernicke’s encephalopathy, Korsakoff’s syndrome, and alcoholic dementia sometimes combined into Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Causes may include vitamin B1 deficiency, alcohol toxicity, head injury, and damage to blood vessels in the brain.
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