A new study found even small amounts of alcohol could increase the risk of developing dementia
A groundbreaking study by the University of Oxford, Yale University, and the University of Cambridge has discovered that even the smallest amount of alcohol could heighten the risk of dementia, challenging the long-standing belief that light to moderate drinking could be a protective measure against the neurodegenerative condition.
This research is the latest to strengthen the link between alcohol consumption and dementia, suggesting that even moderate drinking could increase the risk, and there may not be a ‘safe limit’ for alcohol intake. This bolsters the argument for reducing alcohol consumption across the board.
The study, published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine journal, scrutinised data from over half a million participants in the UK Biobank and US Million Veteran Program. During the follow-up period, 14,540 of these participants were diagnosed with dementia.
The researchers found that heavy drinkers, those knocking back 40 or more drinks per week, faced a 41% higher risk of developing dementia compared to light drinkers, who consumed fewer than seven alcoholic beverages a week.
For those dependent on alcohol, this risk shot up to 51%. Even when accounting for people with a higher genetic predisposition for the condition, the risk was still significantly higher if they chose to drink alcohol.
Dr Anya Topiwala, a senior clinical researcher at Oxford Population Health and consultant psychiatrist, has challenged the common belief that low levels of alcohol are beneficial for brain health. She stated: “Our findings challenge the common belief that low levels of alcohol are beneficial for brain health.”
She further added: “Genetic evidence offers no support for a protective effect, in fact, it suggests the opposite. 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.”
Dr Joel Gelernter, a professor at Yale University and senior author of the study, noted that the findings may have clinical implications. He commented: “There was a time when medical knowledge seemed to support that light drinking would be beneficial to brain health, and this work adds to the evidence that this is not correct.”
The researchers suggested that cutting down on alcohol consumption could play a “significant role” in preventing dementia.
Dr Stephen Burgess, a statistician at the University of Cambridge, said: “The random nature of genetic inheritance allows us to compare groups with higher and lower levels of alcohol drinking in a way that allows us to make conclusions that untangle the confusion between correlation and causation.”
He concluded: “Our findings do not only hold for those who have a particular genetic predisposition, but for anyone who chooses to drink, our study suggests that greater alcohol consumption leads to higher risk of dementia.”