A groundbreaking study, published in Neurology, reveals alarming findings about the effects of heavy alcohol consumption on brain health. The research highlights a strong association between heavy drinking and conditions such as brain lesions, cognitive decline, and vascular damage. This study further demonstrates the close link between alcohol and brain damage.

Researchers from Brazil’s University of Sao Paulo Medical School analysed the brain autopsies of 1,781 individuals. The participants had an average age of 75. They discovered that heavy drinkers had a 133% higher risk of developing vascular brain lesions compared to non-drinkers. These lesions, known as hyaline arteriolosclerosis, restrict blood flow in the brain, potentially impairing memory and cognitive functions.

The study, which assessed data based on family reports of alcohol intake, defined heavy drinking as consuming eight or more alcoholic drinks per week. Alongside this, the researchers identified tau tangles, a marker of Alzheimer’s disease, more frequently in heavy drinkers. Former heavy drinkers also showed noticeable reductions in cognitive function and brain mass relative to body size.

Dr. Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo, the study’s lead author, noted, “Heavy alcohol consumption is a major global health concern linked to increased health problems and death.” The research highlights how alcohol effects on the brain extend beyond immediate damage to present long-term risks, including narrower blood vessels and increased dementia risks.

Another concerning finding reveals that heavy drinkers live significantly shorter lives, approximately 13 years less than their non-drinking counterparts. Additionally, moderate and light drinkers did not share the same risks. However, former heavy drinkers showed lingering damage, underscoring the potential long-lasting effects of alcohol.

Experts, including Dr. Frances Lee of Mount Sinai Health Systems, reaffirm that alcohol’s ability to cross the blood-brain barrier remains a critical factor in its harmful effects. Heavy alcohol use exacerbates depression and behavioural challenges alongside cognitive decline. Despite these effects, the study emphasised that the causation between alcohol and brain damage remains unclear. It calls for further investigation.

These findings encourage a deeper understanding of the risks associated with alcohol and how even former heavy drinking can leave a lasting impact.

Source: Fox News