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Scientists warn: High alcohol consumption linked to high risk of brain damage

Politiko 2025-04-10 15:14:30

Scientists warn: High alcohol consumption linked to high risk of brain damage
A recent study published in the scientific journal Neurology has raised the alarm for those who consume eight or more glasses of alcohol per week, revealing that this level of consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing a form of brain damage called vitreous atherosclerosis.

This condition is characterized by the thickening and hardening of small blood vessels in the brain, obstructing normal blood flow and causing irreversible damage to brain tissue. Researchers found that alcohol at high levels adversely affects memory and thinking, especially as people age.

According to the data, those who drank large amounts of alcohol were 133% more likely to have cerebrovascular damage compared to those who had never drunk. Former drinkers were 89% more likely to have damage, while those who drank moderately had a 60% higher risk. Furthermore, regular drinkers lost an average of 13 years of life compared to those who did not drink at all.

Another disturbing finding was the link between alcohol and the appearance of neurofibrillary tangles – a biomarker linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Heavy drinkers had a 41% higher chance of developing this biomarker, while ex-drinkers had a 31% higher chance.

The study involved analyzing brain tissue from 1,781 people with an average age of 75 who underwent postmortem autopsies. Alcohol consumption was assessed based on information from their relatives. Participants were divided into four categories according to their level of consumption: never, moderate (up to 7 drinks per week), heavy drinkers (8+ drinks per week), and former heavy drinkers. A drink was considered any serving containing 14 grams of alcohol – equivalent to a 350ml glass of beer, a 150ml glass of wine or 45ml of spirits.

Although no direct link was found between moderate or heavy drinking and brain size or cognitive function, those who had consumed large amounts of alcohol in the past had lower percentages of brain mass and showed poorer cognitive abilities. The researchers emphasize that the study does not prove causation, but shows a strong association between high alcohol consumption and brain damage. An important limitation was that the participants were not followed over their lifetime for changes in their mental abilities or for the duration of their alcohol consumption.

However, the results raise concern and call for widespread awareness of the impacts of alcohol consumption on long-term brain health.