Excessive drinking has already been shown to significantly increase the risk of developing illnesses such as stroke, heart disease, and cancer. Moreover, in recent years, new research studies have also found that alcohol consumption is linked to a higher risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Specifically, one study showed that moderate alcohol intake (defined as 1-13 standard drinks per week) could lower a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, another analysis revealed that decreasing one’s alcohol consumption significantly lowers the risk of cognitive impairments and dementia. Finally, research published earlier in September in the peer-reviewed journal eNeuro has shown that individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) share specific gene-expression patterns in the brain similar to those found in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“What we’ve presented here is a differential analysis of two disorders that cause cognitive decline,” said Dr. Arpita Joshi, a scientist at Scripps Research in San Diego, and the first author of the study. “It deepens our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease … and it underscores the importance of considering alcohol use disorder as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.”

The study revealed shared cellular perturbations in both Alzheimer’s disease and AUD which included aberrations in cellular processes and signalling, as well as inflammation and cell death. “By shedding light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the intersection of the two conditions, we’re confident that the findings will stimulate further research [on Alzheimer’s] and have implications for the development of novel or repurposed therapeutic approaches,” added Dr. Joshi.

Other studies have also identified alcohol as a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline. For instance, one study found that 50% to 75% of individuals with AUD who had completed treatment and detox programs still experienced some type of memory or cognitive disturbance. In fact, recent research has also shown that there is no level of alcohol consumption that does not increase the risk of dementia. What’s more, it concluded that there is a linear relationship between the amount of alcohol one consumes and the risk of developing dementia.