A new study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has provided evidence of how heavy drinking harms brain health, especially for older Americans. Conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo Medical School, the study reveals that heavy drinkers may face significant cognitive impairment and die several years earlier than non-drinkers.
Inclusion criteria
Participants were on average seventy-five years of age. Along with being representative in terms of geographic location, the sample was ethnically diverse and included individuals aged fifty and above.
The study focused exclusively on participants who stated they had a next of kin. These family members were in touch at least weekly during the six months prior to the participant deaths. This procedural piece of the study allowed for consistent, sound data collection about participants’ drinking patterns. Alberto Justo, PhD, the study’s principal researcher, called these results “striking.” He recognized that the data collection had limitations, but the findings were still eye-popping. Previous research confirms that heavy drinkers are at a higher risk of dying earlier than non-drinkers.
“While there were limitations (well documented) pertaining to the thoroughness of data collection (from next of kin) and longitudinal knowledge of said alcohol consumption, the overall numbers are fairly striking. Past studies have already demonstrated that heavy drinkers die multiple years earlier when compared to nondrinkers.” – Alberto Justo, PhD
The SRPD study underscores a deeply troubling association between alcohol consumption and pathologic findings such as hyaline arteriolosclerosis and neurofibrillary tangles. Enlarged ventricles, displaced sulci, and cortical thinning are all pronounced cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia. Justo pointed out that even low levels of alcohol intake might still cause detrimental vascular effects within the brain, contributing to a decline in cognitive health overall.
“Our study found that even moderate alcohol consumption may lead to vascular changes in the brain, such as hyaline arteriolosclerosis. We also observed that former heavy drinkers had reduced brain mass and poorer cognitive abilities,” – Alberto Justo, PhD
Indeed, the researchers said the effects of alcohol on the human brain depend on several factors. These factors include age, how long the person has been drinking heavily, general health, and diet. Justo was clear that we don’t yet have a complete picture of what’s happening, pointing to areas that require a deeper look.
“The effect of alcohol on the human brain is dependent on multiple factors such as age, number of years of heavy alcohol use, overall health, nutritional intake etc. This study demonstrates that moderate to heavy alcohol use or even a history of prior heavy alcohol use is associated with more arteriosclerosis in the smallest arteries in the brain,” – Alberto Justo, PhD
The results of this exploratory study have important clinical implications. As we might expect, heavy alcohol use and a history of heavy drinking helps accelerate the development of subcortical disease in the brain. This can cause neurological dysfunction. This decline can appear as challenges with processing speed, memory, and executive functioning.
“Potential clinical implications of this study are the finding that heavy alcohol use or a history of heavy alcohol use can lead to accelerated subcortical disease in the brain which would manifest as a cognitive impairment,” – Kamal
Looking ahead, Justo argues for more research in the form of cohort studies. These types of studies would offer greater insight into the causal relationships between alcohol consumption and brain changes over time.
“Future research should focus on cohort studies to better understand the causal relationships between alcohol consumption and brain changes over time. This research will help clarify how different levels and durations of alcohol intake affect cognitive health.” – Alberto Justo, PhD
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