A new study published in the journal Neurology has found a strong association between heavy drinking and signs of brain injury, including vascular brain lesions and tau tangles tied to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers analyzed brain tissue from 1,781 individuals who had an average age of 75 at the time of death.
The study found that people who consumed eight or more alcoholic drinks per week were more likely to develop these brain injuries compared to those who never drank. Heavy drinking was also linked to lower brain mass ratio and worse cognitive abilities. Notably, former heavy drinkers experienced impaired cognitive abilities even after they stopped drinking.
Researchers defined one drink as 14 grams of alcohol, which is equivalent to about 350 milliliters of beer or 150 milliliters of wine. The study’s findings suggest that heavy drinking can cause long-term damage to the brain, leading to memory and thinking problems.
The researchers noted that the study’s limitations include not analyzing participants before death and lacking information on the duration of alcohol consumption. Despite these limitations, the study highlights the importance of public health awareness and preventive measures to reduce heavy drinking.
According to lead author Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo, PhD, “Heavy alcohol consumption is a major global health concern linked to increased health problems and death.” The study’s findings underscore the need for continued research into the effects of alcohol on brain health.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/eight-drinks-a-week-heres-what-that-does-to-your-brain-over-time