Heavy alcohol consumption can lead to brain damage and impaired memory and thinking, according to a Brazilian study published in the journal Neurology.
People who consume eight or more alcoholic drinks per week have an increased risk of developing brain lesions known as hyaline arteriolosclerosis, a condition characterised by thickening and narrowing of small blood vessels that makes it harder for blood to flow, which can damage the brain over time.
For the study, researchers examined brain autopsies of 1,781 people who died at an average age of 75. They looked for signs of brain injury, including hyaline arteriolosclerosis and tau tangles, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Family members provided information about the deceased subjects’ drinking habits.
Participants were grouped based on their alcohol consumption: never drinkers; moderate drinkers (up to seven or fewer drinks per week); heavy drinkers (eight or more drinks per week); and former heavy drinkers. One drink was defined as containing 14 grams of alcohol—equivalent to approximately 350 ml of beer, 150 ml of wine, or 45 ml of distilled spirits.
Compared with those who never drank, heavy drinkers had a 133 per cent higher chance of having brain lesions, former heavy drinkers had an 89 per cent higher chance, and moderate drinkers, 60 per cent. Additionally, heavy drinkers had a 41 per cent increased risk of developing tau tangles, while former heavy drinkers had a 31 per cent higher risk.
Notably, heavy drinkers died an average of 13 years earlier than those who abstained from alcohol. “Heavy alcohol consumption is a major global health concern linked to increased health problems and death,” concluded the study.
