An extensive study suggests that drinking any amount of alcohol may raise the risk of developing dementia, a brain condition that affects memory and thinking.
Even a single glass of wine per week may increase your risk of dementia, according to a new study that analyzed data from 2.4 million people and found no safe level of alcohol consumption for brain health.
“My overall view is that this study strengthens the case for a ‘precautionary principle’ when it comes to alcohol and brain health,” Dr. Luke Barr, a board-certified neurologist and chief medical officer at SensIQ, who was not involved in the study, told The Epoch Times. “Even light drinking carries some degree of risk, and the more someone drinks, the higher that risk appears to be.”
Study Examined ‘Entire Range’ of Drinking
While observational studies often suggest that moderate alcohol drinking is neuroprotective, genetic analyses indicate the opposite.
The observational data revealed that both nondrinkers and heavy drinkers (those consuming 40 or more drinks weekly) had a 41 percent higher risk of dementia compared with light drinkers (fewer than seven drinks per week). Those with alcohol dependence faced a 51 percent higher risk.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 559,000 participants of European, African, and Latin American ancestry, aged 56 to 72, who were monitored for four to 12 years. Participants responded to questionnaires about their drinking habits, with more than 90 percent reporting alcohol use.
The study then analyzed genetics in 2.4 million people drawn from 45 studies of dementia. Using a technique called Mendelian randomization, researchers analyzed genetic markers linked to different drinking behaviors, including weekly alcohol consumption, risky drinking patterns, and alcohol dependence. This type of analysis helps determine causality while minimizing risk of confounding variables and allows researchers to estimate the cumulative effects of alcohol intake over an individual’s lifetime.
In contrast, observational studies typically provide only a snapshot of drinking habits during mid-to-late life and rely heavily on participant recall, which can be prone to inaccuracies.
Researchers found that carrying genes that predispose one to drink is linked with increased risk of dementia. Importantly, the genetic analysis found no evidence that low levels of alcohol intake protect against dementia.
People who later developed dementia tended to drink less alcohol in the years before their diagnosis. According to researchers, this may mean that early stages of cognitive decline lead to reduced drinking, which might potentially explain why previous studies concluded that light drinking was protective.
What the Findings Mean for Public Health
The researchers said their findings “challenge the notion that low levels of alcohol are neuroprotective.”
Barr said that from a public health standpoint, guidelines should move away from framing alcohol in terms of “safe” limits for brain health and instead emphasize that “less is better.”
Other lifestyle factors can interact with alcohol in shaping dementia risk, including cardiovascular health, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, and poor sleep, he noted.
“Alcohol can exacerbate many of these factors, for example, by raising blood pressure, disturbing sleep, or increasing metabolic strain, which may amplify overall dementia risk,” he said.
Conversely, Barr said, protective factors such as regular exercise, social engagement, and a balanced diet rich in whole foods may help offset some risk, although they cannot entirely negate the effects of alcohol.
“For individuals concerned about dementia, especially those with family history or other risk factors, minimizing alcohol consumption is a wise and evidence-based step,” he said.
