That weekend turn-up might be turning your brain off.
According to a study published in the scientific journal Neurology, people who down eight or more drinks a week could be setting themselves up for serious brain damage.
Researchers found these drinkers had more brain lesions that are linked to memory loss and diseases like Alzheimer’s.
It’s called hyaline arteriolosclerosis. Your blood vessels get thick, stiff, and narrow. That makes it harder for blood to flow, and over time, your brain starts taking hits.
“We looked at how alcohol affects the brain as people get older,” said lead researcher Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo. “Our research shows that heavy alcohol consumption is damaging to the brain, which can lead to memory and thinking problems.”
The team studied 1,781 people who had brain autopsies after death. They were around 75 years old. Their families shared how much alcohol they drank, and researchers checked their brains for damage.
Turns out:
- 40% of non-drinkers had brain injuries
- 45% of moderate drinkers had injuries
- 44% of heavy drinkers had injuries
- 50% of former heavy drinkers had injuries
Former heavy drinkers had it the worst. They were also more likely to have tau tangles, a marker for Alzheimer’s.
Even worse, heavy drinkers died about 13 years earlier than folks who never drank.
No shame in having a sip, but the U.S. guidelines say men should keep it under 2 drinks a day, women under 1.
Your brain’s not built for bottles on bottles, so choose wisely.
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