Brain Drain

For many, binge drinking is a social rite that extends far beyond fraternity houses and dorm rooms and into adulthood. Defined by the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as five or more drinks in a row for men and four in a row for women, bingeing is linked to many serious health problems. Now there's yet another health concern to add to the list. Three UK newspapers, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph and The Guardian, reported on Monday that excessive alcohol consumption could be to blame for one in four cases of dementia.

The reporting was based on a peer-reviewed study, published in the journal Alcohol & Alcoholism, that found that heavy drinkers can begin to experience serious memory problems as early as their 40s, and that women are more susceptible to cognitive impairment because they metabolize alcohol less effectively.

Jane Marshall, M.D., one of the authors of the study, tells The Telegraph, “People think that dementia is something that happens to people over 65. But a lot of those under 65 have got cognitive problems and a large proportion of the problems in that group are related to alcohol.”

The study mirrors one published in the U.S. last year that found that alcohol abuse can speed the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 4.8 years.

While it’s long been known that drinking can kill brain cells, the latest study suggests that the impact is more damaging than previously thought. The study does offer encouraging news, however, for those concerned about the impact of heavy drinking on cognitive health: Heavy drinkers who abstain from alcohol can see brain cells regenerate and an improvement of brain activity in key areas of cognitive function. To protect your brain, follow the CDC’s guidelines for drinking in moderation.