The headlines have recently proclaimed that a little alcohol can improve longevity. The emphasis is on a little. Too much alcohol can increase the risk for cognitive decline. That’s because there are ingredients in alcohol that are problematic for brain tissue. In addition, the body metabolizes ethanol (aka ethyl alcohol or drinking alcohol) to acetaldehyde, a chemical that is considered a neurotoxin. Too much alcohol has been linked to “alcoholic brain damage” (Metabolic Brain Disease, March, 1995).
Too Much Alcohol and Dementia:
A French study of more than a million adults reveals that excessive alcohol use is associated with early dementia (Lancet Public Health, Feb. 20, 2018). More than 16 percent of the men with a diagnosis of dementia also had alcohol use disorder.
That was also true for 4% of the women. Discharged patients without dementia were only half as likely to be alcoholics.
Heavy alcohol use leads to brain injury over time. In addition to damaging neuronal tissue directly, alcohol abuse also affects blood vessels and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Too Much Alcohol and Thiamine Deficiency:
Researchers have known for a long time that too much alcohol can deplete the body of a key B vitamin called thiamine (vitamin B1). A review of this effect in the journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy (Jan. 25, 2013) noted:
“Neuropathological and imaging studies suggest that excessive and prolonged use of alcohol may lead to structural and functional damage that is permanent in nature; however, there is debate about the relative contributions of the direct toxic effect of alcohol (neurotoxicity hypothesis), and the impact of thiamine deficiency, to lasting damage.”
It is entirely possible that too much alcohol directly impacts the brain in a negative way. In addition, alcohol impairs thiamine metabolism in the body. Too little of this nutrient can also cause neurotoxicity.
How Much is Too Much Alcohol?
Researchers are not in complete agreement about this. Some studies suggest that 10 drinks a week are problematic. Others consider 5 to 6 drinks a day excessive. We suspect that the truth lies somewhere in between. Once someone makes alcohol a regular part of each day and becomes uncomfortable without at least two drinks, we worry.
The People’s Pharmacy Perspective:
While a little alcohol may prolong life, who wants to live longer if the mind is gone? The results of the 90+ study (here is a link) included the discovery that “Over 40% of people aged 90 and older suffer from dementia.” While a single glass of wine or a cocktail should not lead to alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD), too many glasses could clearly increase the risk for dementia.
Want to cut back on booze? Here is a recent article you may find of interest. Check out the comments at the bottom for reader perspectives.
