A new study has found that no amount of alcohol consumption is safe when it comes to your risk for dementia. In the past, some research has suggested that a little booze might actually be beneficial, but the most recent study has challenged this idea.
The study was led by researchers from the University of Oxford, Yale University, and the University of Cambridge. They analyzed data from nearly 560,000 participants between the ages of 56 and 72.
The participants answered questions about their alcohol consumption until they received a dementia diagnosis, had a follow-up visit without a dementia diagnosis, or passed away.
A total of 90% of participants reported drinking some level of alcohol. More than 14,500 individuals were diagnosed with dementia.
The researchers used genetic analysis to determine how likely it was for people to drink alcohol.
They discovered that a doubled increase in an individual’s genetic risk for alcohol use disorder raised their risk of dementia by 16%.
Even those who were not heavy drinkers, only consuming roughly one to three drinks a week, had a 15% higher chance of developing dementia.
According to Dr. Ryan Marino from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, alcohol is a known carcinogen. It is toxic to every cell and human tissue in the human body.
That does not mean one glass of wine or another alcoholic drink will cause harm, but it does not have health benefits, either.
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Overall, the findings showed that any amount of alcohol increases the risk of dementia. The more alcohol someone drinks, the higher their risk becomes.
However, it is important to note that those who reported themselves as non-drinkers in the study typically had lower socioeconomic status and education levels, which are both associated with poorer cognitive function in older age and an increased vulnerability to dementia. In addition, some of the non-drinkers may have had different drinking habits in the past.
More than six million Americans are affected by dementia, so it’s crucial to stay informed about the effects of alcohol and its associated risks. The new study counters the widespread notion that small amounts of alcohol are good for brain health.
“Genetic evidence offers no support for a protective effect—in fact, it suggests the opposite,” said Anya Topiwala, the lead author of the study and a senior clinical researcher in the department of psychiatry at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
“Even light or moderate drinking may increase the risk of dementia, indicating that reducing alcohol consumption across the population could play a significant role in dementia prevention.”
The standard serving size of an alcoholic beverage is considered to be 12 ounces for a beer, five ounces for wine, and 1.5 ounces for spirits.
Heavy alcohol use is measured as more than 14 drinks per week for men and more than seven drinks per week for women. Moderate use is generally one to 14 drinks per week for men and one to seven drinks per week for women.
The study was published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine journal.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
