Heavy Alcohol Use Linked to Brain Lesions, Cognitive Decline, and Shorter Lifespan

New autopsy-based research involving 1,781 elderly individuals reveals the long-term neurological damage and reduced life expectancy associated with heavy drinking.

• The study found heavy drinkers had 133% higher odds of developing vascular brain lesions compared to non-drinkers, potentially leading to memory and thinking problems.
• Both heavy and former heavy drinkers showed a significant increase in tau tangles, a biomarker linked to Alzheimer’s disease, with odds rising by 41% and 31%, respectively.
• Former heavy drinkers exhibited reduced brain mass and worse cognitive abilities, highlighting long-term damage even after stopping heavy alcohol consumption.
• Heavy drinkers were found to have a significantly shorter lifespan, dying an average of 13 years earlier than those who never drank.
• The research, published in Neurology®, utilized detailed autopsies to provide robust evidence of alcohol's damaging effects on brain health and aging.

4 Articles

CNN ScienceDaily New York Post Open Access Government