Drinking Too Much (or Too Little) May Increase Dementia Risk

Dementia rates are expected to triple by 2050—yes, triple—which means researchers are scrambling to get to the root cause of the widespread disease.

As humans are living longer and longer (while still dealing with the challenges that come with mental deterioration), it’s important to identify the lifestyle factors that encourage the onset of dementia. Naturally, some of this research has focused in on alcohol consumption, but results have been a bit surprising. When it comes to dementia risk, abstaining from alcohol may be just as risky as bingeing.

SURPRISING FINDINGS ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DEMENTIA

How can that be? According to a study published in BMJ, both abstainers and heavy drinkers showed significant increases in dementia cases.

The study followed over 9,000 British citizens from 1985 through 1993 to determine their alcohol dependency and drinking habits. All participants were between the ages of 35 and 55 at the start of the study. In followup years, they kept track of when and which patients developed dementia, which turned out to be about 400 of their participants. 

After taking into account other lifestyle factors, they determined that both those who abstained from alcohol and those who consumed more than 14 drinks a week were at increased risk for developing dementia.  Every seven drinks weekly beyond 14 drinks was also associated with a 17 percent increase in dementia risk (those consuming 3 or more drinks a day).

Of course, it seems that there are likely different mechanisms responsible for the increase in each group.

For those who abstain, perhaps they are lacking in compounds that exert neuroprotective properties on the brain, much like the antioxidants in red wine. Then again, too much drinking causes heavy inflammation, which speeds up mental deterioration and paves the way for chronic diseases of all types.

But those are both purely hypothetical.

Previous studies have shown that moderate drinking in midlife is associated with a decreased risk of dementia, but this is the first study to demonstrate the ways in which alcohol consumption (or lack thereof) actually increases risk.

For those who preach moderation, this study is certainly a welcome affirmation.

THE TAKE-AWAY

Of course, this is by no means conclusive (and other factors may be at play), but it certainly is interesting.

If you avoid alcohol, don’t consider this a reason to head out and buy a bottle of wine tonight. Some people should avoid alcohol altogether, in spite of what this study concludes.

There are other ways to protect the brain—like natural nootropics—so do not use this study as an excuse to pick up a bottle again if you’ve been abstaining, especially since alcohol consumption is associated with other serious diseases.