Image source : HealthDay
United States: A recent study reveals that people who drink heavily face greater dangers of brain lesions that affect memory along with thinking abilities.
Individuals who consume alcohol in amounts exceeding eight drinks per week face higher chances of developing hyaline arteriolosclerosis based on research published in Neurology on April 9, as reported by HealthDay.
The dysfunctional blood circulation caused by this condition eventually damages the brain according to researchers. Hyaline arteriolosclerosis manifests through brain tissue lesions named “lesions” by medical professionals.
Memory and Thinking at Risk
“Heavy alcohol consumption is a major global health concern linked to increased health problems and death,” said lead researcher Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo, an investigator at the University of Sao Paulo Medical School in Brazil.
“Our research shows that heavy alcohol consumption is damaging to the brain, which can lead to memory and thinking problems,” Justo added in a news release.
Autopsies Reveal the Damage
A total of 1,800 participants died at an average age of 75, and their autopsied brains received analysis in this research study.
The brain examinations investigated both Alzheimer’s disease tau tangles alongside hyaline arteriolosclerosis occurrences.
Family members provided drinking habit details to researchers who evaluated brain conditions and alcohol use patterns.
The research team identified alcohol content in one drink to equal 14 grams. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, while 5 ounces measure wine and 1.5 ounces represent distilled spirits.
Ex-Heavy Drinkers Also at Risk
Scientific analysis revealed that ex-heavy drinkers carried an 89% increased likelihood of brain lesions throughout their bodies, whereas moderate drinkers who consumed less than seven drinks weekly demonstrated a 60% augmented risk.
Heavy drinkers faced a 41% greater chance of forming tau tangles than those who abstained from alcohol according to research evidence.
Brain shrinkage and diminished cognitive abilities happened in individuals who drank heavily during former periods according to researchers.
Long-Term Effects Include Shrinking Brain, Shorter Life
According to research heavy alcohol consumption resulted in a 13-year reduction of average life expectancy for these individuals, as reported by HealthDay.
“We found heavy drinking is directly linked to signs of injury in the brain, and this can cause long-term effects on brain health, which may impact memory and thinking abilities,” Justo said. “Understanding these effects is crucial for public health awareness and continuing to implement preventive measures to reduce heavy drinking.”
