Can small doses of alcohol trigger dementia? Answer of scientists

The risk of dementia increases with the consumption of any amount of alcohol

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Scientists have found a linear relationship between the amount of alcohol consumed and the risk of developing dementia.

That is, scientists have confirmed the hypothesis that there is no safe dose of alcohol, according to the research results. published in the journal eClinicalMedicineTrusted Source, writes Medical news Today.

Scientists have long understood what is excessive drinking alcohol associated with dementia. However, the effects of light and moderate alcohol consumption remain a matter of debate.

Trying to find out the connection, the authors of the study analyzed data from the Biobank of Great Britain on 314,000 Britons who drink alcohol.

Participants were free of dementia at the time of initial data collection between 2006 and 2010. Over 4 years, they self-reported their drinking habits and doses, as well as provided genetic information.

The scientists used several methods to analyze the obtained data at once.

Using Cox analysis (a statistical method), they assessed the relationship between risk factors and health outcomes over time.

They got a classic “j-curve” plot – the curve first goes down and then goes up.

This distribution is called “abstainer bias.” It arises when the control group of non-drinkers includes people who gave up alcohol due to health problems. This distorts the data, and attests to a greater health benefit than it actually is, scientists note.

The scientists also analyzed the genetic data of the participants, because the consumed alcohol can be calculated by the number of certain genetic variations (SNP) in the human genome. The researchers selected 95 SNPs that are associated with alcohol consumption, but not with smoking.

They used non-linear and linear Mendelian randomization analysis for these data (Trusted Source). These research methods are used to obtain evidence of causal relationships between risk factors and health outcomes.

Both analyzes showed a direct association between drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol and the risk of developing dementia, and suggest that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.

However, scientists note that alcohol is only one of the risk factors for dementia. Age, cardiometabolic disease, smoking, education, and socioeconomic factors must also be taken into account.

In addition, alcohol consumption can cause memory loss, regardless of other factors.

We will remind, scientists also recently found a new reason early aging of children. It is related to the parents’ use of alcohol.