New Research: Even Small Amounts of Alcohol Damage the Brain

Everyone knows that heavy drinking – and excessive alcohol consumption in general – is damaging to health. But is 'moderate' consumption of alcoholic beverages also harmful? A new study examined exactly this and returned with unpleasant answers for fans of vodka and whiskey.

A group of researchers from the UK followed 550 men and women who have participated for thirty years in a longitudinal study examining various health parameters. They analyzed brain scans of these participants, taking into account a range of factors that could affect brain structure including age, smoking, and medical history. Ultimately, the researchers reached a clear conclusion: alcohol consumption was linked with damage to the hippocampus area of the brain, an area of great importance for memory, as well as spatial orientation.

As expected, the greatest damages were observed in those who consumed large amounts of alcohol. But the surprising data pertained to those who consumed alcohol in what is today considered a 'moderate' manner: around five glasses of wine per week. Researchers found that even among this group, the risk of hippocampal brain damage was three times higher compared to those who did not consume alcohol at all.

These results, the researchers say, serve as a reminder that alcohol, in any quantity, is ultimately a toxic substance. And this reminder is of great importance, especially in an era where life expectancy is longer than ever. As Dr. Killian Welch, one of the researchers, wrote in a column accompanying the research article: "As life expectancy increases, maintaining brain health in old age becomes a primary priority in our times... Alcohol might be the main factor behind cognitive limitations in certain individuals, but it is likely a significant contributor to cognitive decline in many more."