Overview
- Richard Restak, a memory specialist and former American Neuropsychiatric Association president, advises complete abstinence from alcohol starting at age 65 to preserve cognitive function.
- Some outlets relay a looser threshold, reporting his recommendation as stopping by age 70 at the latest, reflecting minor variance in coverage.
- Restak describes alcohol as a very weak neurotoxin that can still damage neurons, noting natural declines in neuronal reserve after about 65.
- Rehab clinicians cite reduced liver function, lower alcohol dehydrogenase activity, and less body water with age, which keep alcohol in the bloodstream longer and intensify its effects even at moderate intake.
- The advice is framed alongside evidence, including The Lancet dementia commission’s estimate that up to 40% of cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risks such as harmful drinking, with added tips on sleep, cognitively demanding reading, sensory correction, and social engagement.