Any Amount of Alcohol Raises Dementia Risk: Study

An extensive study suggests that drinking any amount of alcohol may raise the risk of developing dementia, a brain condition that affects memory and thinking.

Even a single glass of wine per week may increase your risk of dementia, according to a new study that analyzed data from 2.4 million people and found no safe level of alcohol consumption for brain health.

The research, recently published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, combined data from both observational and genetic studies to show that dementia risk rises as alcohol intake increases, with no safe level of drinking identified.

Story continues below advertisement

“My overall view is that this study strengthens the case for a ‘precautionary principle’ when it comes to alcohol and brain health,” Dr. Luke Barr, a board-certified neurologist and chief medical officer at SensIQ who was not involved in the study, told The Epoch Times. “Even light drinking carries some degree of risk, and the more someone drinks, the higher that risk appears to be.”

He noted that the findings challenge the long-standing idea that “light to moderate” alcohol consumption might protect the brain.

Study Examined ‘Entire Range’ of Drinking

While observational studies often link moderate alcohol drinking to be neuroprotective, genetic analyses indicate the opposite.

The observational data revealed that both non-drinkers and heavy drinkers (those consuming 40 or more drinks weekly) had a 41 percent higher risk of dementia compared to light drinkers (fewer than seven drinks a week). Those with alcohol dependence faced a 51 percent higher risk.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 559,000 participants of European, African, and Latin American ancestry, aged 56 to 72, who were monitored for four to 12 years. Participants responded to questionnaires about their drinking habits, with more than 90 percent reporting alcohol use.