A recent study conducted by the University of Oxford, Yale University, and the University of Cambridge has uncovered that even minimal alcohol consumption can elevate the risk of dementia, contradicting the belief that light to moderate drinking could offer protection against this cognitive condition.
The study, published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine journal, analyzed data from over half a million participants from the UK Biobank and US Million Veteran Program. Among these participants, 14,540 were diagnosed with dementia during the follow-up period.
The findings revealed that heavy drinkers, consuming 40 or more drinks per week, faced a 41% higher risk of developing dementia compared to light drinkers who had fewer than seven alcoholic beverages per week. For individuals dependent on alcohol, the risk increased to 51%. Even after considering those with a genetic predisposition to dementia, the risk remained significantly higher for alcohol consumers.
Dr. Anya Topiwala, a senior clinical researcher at Oxford Population Health and consultant psychiatrist, challenged the notion that low alcohol levels are beneficial for brain health. She emphasized that the study’s results suggest that even light or moderate drinking could raise the risk of dementia, underscoring the importance of reducing alcohol consumption on a broader scale.
Dr. Joel Gelernter, a professor at Yale University and senior author of the study, highlighted the clinical implications of the findings, emphasizing that previous beliefs supporting the benefits of light drinking for brain health are not accurate.
The researchers recommended that reducing alcohol intake could play a crucial role in dementia prevention, emphasizing the significance of this measure for public health. Dr. Stephen Burgess, a statistician at the University of Cambridge, noted that the study’s evidence indicates a direct link between higher alcohol consumption and an increased risk of dementia, regardless of genetic predisposition.
Overall, the study underscores the importance of limiting alcohol consumption to mitigate the risk of developing dementia, highlighting the need for public health interventions to address this growing concern.