Drinking any amount of alcohol may lead to dementia, study finds
New research can increase the risk of developing dementia to drink any amount of alcohol.
Directed by researchers at the University of Oxford, Yale University and Cambridge University, the study analyzed data from more than 559,000 people in the British Biobank and US million Veteran program. During the follow -up period, 14,540 participants developed dementia.
The results of the observational data were striking. Heavy smokers who consumed 40 or more drinks a week and without drinks had a 41 percent of the risk of developing dementia compared to mild drinkers who were less than seven a week. For those who are dependent on alcohol, the risk rose to 51 percent.
However, the researchers performed genetic analysis by using genome -diameter associations (GWAS) to solve the correlation from causality. They evaluated three measures: Self -reported weekly beverages, risky drinking and alcohol addiction.
In any case, a higher genetic risk for alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of dementia. The authors said that this evidence weakens the idea that low alcohol levels can protect the brain.
Researchers have doubted that groups that have never had any alcohol have been seen to have worse health results in observational studies. The reason for this is due to the effect of the “patient Quitter”, in which people who stop drinking due to illness are grouped with those who do not drink for life.
2016 analysis In addition, after the old drinkers were excluded, he found that the visible protective effect of drinking light was largely lost.
Oxford Population Health and Advisor Psychiatrist Senior Clinical Researcher Anya Topiwala said that these latest findings are “challenging their widespread belief that low alcohol levels are beneficial for brain health”.
He said: “Genetic evidence does not provide support for a protective effect, in fact it shows the opposite.
“Even mild or moderate drinking can increase the risk of dementia, which shows that it can play an important role in preventing dementia in reducing alcohol consumption throughout the population.”
Yale University Professor and senior writer of the study Dr. Joel Gelerinter said: “There was a time when medical information supports that light would be beneficial for brain health, and this study adds evidence that it is not true.”
Cambridge statistician Dr. Stephen Burgess added: “Our findings show that our work is not only for those who have a certain genetic predisposition, but also for everyone who chooses to drink, shows that more alcohol consumption leads to a higher dementia risk.”
Alzheimer Research UK, despite emphasizing that more research is needed, alcohol is added to the risk of dementia, he said.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 982,000 people are currently living in the UK with dementia, which is expected to increase to approximately 1.4 million by 2040.
