A new study has revealed that even moderate drinking can change the structure of our brains. In contrast with previous research, which states that low levels of drinking can actually help protect the brain, these findings argue that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol over time can harm the brain and impair cognitive function, The Guardian has reported.
"We knew that drinking heavily for long periods of time was bad for brain health, but we didn't know at these levels," says Dr Anya Topiwala, the co-author of the study and a clinical lecturer in old age psychiatry at the University of Oxford.
The study—undertaken by researchers at the University of Oxford and University College London, and published in The British Medical Journal—followed the alcohol intake and cognitive performance of 550 men and women over a 30-year period. Just 23 participants were excluded due to gaps in data and other issues.
A host of other factors were taken into account when analysing the results, including age, sex, social activity and education. The team concluded that those who had reported higher levels of drinking were more likely to have a shrunken hippocampus—this is a form of brain damage often associated with memory-loss conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
In non-drinkers, 35 per cent had shown this shrinkage, the figure was 65 per cent of those who drank moderately (between 14 and 21 units a week) and 77 per cent for heavy drinkers (30 units or more a week).
In addition to this, heavier and moderate drinkers also had a faster decline in language skills and had poorer white-matter integrity. Topiwala explained to CNN: "The big fibre tracts in the brain are cabled like electrical wire and the insulation, if you like, on those wires was of a poorer quality in people who were drinking more."
"We were surprised that the light to moderate drinkers didn't seem to have that protective effect," she continued. "These are people who are drinking at levels that many consider social drinkers, so they are not consuming a lot."
However, before you put your glass of wine down permanently, it is important to note that these results do not necessarily conclude that you need to go teetotal in order to help prevent this kind of brain damage. Further research still needs to be done. Dr Doug Brown, the director of research and development at Alzheimer's Society, told The Guardian the one thing to take from this is that we should stick to the recommended daily guidelines.
"Although this research gives useful insight into the long-term effects that drinking alcohol may have on the brain, it does not show that moderate alcohol intake causes cognitive decline," Brown said. "However, the findings do contradict a common belief that a glass of red wine or champagne a day can protect against damage to the brain."
Via: Harper's BAZAAR UK