Thread: ‘Moderate’ drinking linked to brain damage: study

PARIS – Even moderate drinking is linked to brain damage and a slight decline in mental skills, according to a study released Wednesday that calls into question many national alcohol guidelines.

Men and women who consume 14 to 21 drinks a week over decades are two to three times more likely than nondrinkers to show atrophy in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that governs memory and the ability to keep one’s bearings, said the study, published in the medical journal BMJ.

They also performed more poorly on a specific verbal test, though other language functions appeared to remain unchanged.

A single drink was defined as containing 10 milliliters (8 grams) of pure alcohol — the equivalent of a large glass of wine, a pint of 5 percent beer, or a shot of spirits such as whisky or vodka.

Last year, the British government revised its guidelines for alcohol consumption, lowering the recommended maximum for men and women to 14 “units,” or drinks, spread out over a week.

In other countries, that threshold is set higher for men: 35 units in Spain, 24.5 in the United States, 21 in Denmark and Ireland, and 19 in New Zealand.

For women, however, guidelines for maximum weekly consumption in all of these nations, except for Spain, is 14 drinks or less.

The negative impact of heavy drinking on the brain is well documented, but research on potential damage from “moderate” consumption — up to now defined as two or three drinks a day, on average — has been scant and inconclusive.

To probe further, researchers at the University of Oxford and University College London combed through data on 550 men and women monitored during 30 years as part of the so-called Whitehall II study.

Volunteers reported periodically on their drinking habits, and scientists carried out brain tests at regular intervals. None were alcoholics at the outset.

The effect of 14-to-21 units of alcohol on the hippocampus was clearly shown by imaging technology.

Mental performance tests were less conclusive: only one measuring language fluency showed a clear impact, while others showed no decline in brain function.

“Alcohol consumption — even at moderate levels — is associated with adverse brain outcomes,” the researchers concluded.

The findings “support the recent reduction in alcohol guidance in the United Kingdom, and question the current limits recommended in the United States,” they wrote.

Nor did the scientists uncover any “evidence of a protective effect of light drinking over abstinence on brain structure or function,” a tentative conclusion of earlier research.

Because the new study was observational and not experimental, no firm conclusions could be drawn about cause and effect. The authors also acknowledged that the sample size was small.

Outside experts gave the study mixed reviews.

“It shows evidence for ‘hidden’ damage to the brain,” commented Paul Matthews of Imperial College London, who highlighted the value of the advanced imaging techniques used.

Jennifer Wild, a senior researcher in clinical psychology at the University of Oxford, said the results showed a “robust link” between what most people would consider casual drinking and brain degeneration later in life.

Other scientists expressed skepticism about some of the methodology, and the self-reporting of alcohol consumption.

“Over the 30-year period, weekly intake did not increase in the study participants,” noted Carl Heneghan, director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford.

This flies in the face of a known pattern of increasing consumption through early adulthood, and a gradual tapering off into older age, he pointed out.

'Moderate' drinking linked to brain damage: study | The Japan Times

Originally Posted by misskit

Last year, the British government revised its guidelines for alcohol consumption, lowering the recommended maximum for men and women to 14 “units,” or drinks, spread out over a week.
In other countries, that threshold is set higher for men: 35 units in Spain, 24.5 in the United States, 21 in Denmark and Ireland, and 19 in New Zealand.

Confirms what I've always thought - Britons have weaker brain cells.

Originally Posted by lom

Originally Posted by misskit

Last year, the British government revised its guidelines for alcohol consumption, lowering the recommended maximum for men and women to 14 “units,” or drinks, spread out over a week.
In other countries, that threshold is set higher for men: 35 units in Spain,....... 24.5 in the United States,..............and 19 in New Zealand.[

Confirms what I've always thought - Britons have weaker brain cells.

How do you figure that out?

Originally Posted by misskit

Men and women who consume 14 to 21 drinks a week over decades are two to three times more likely than nondrinkers to show atrophy in the hippocampus,

That is "moderate"? That is three beers a day almost 4 now as I didn't have any yesterday!

What is heavy?

I drink 2 bottles a day and my missus thinks I drink too much.

OP, I hate articles like this....Makes me nervous.

I'm fooked then !

Another load of shit written by straight, religious, god fearing fuk ups.

I'm pissed up every day and mix my meds up with all sorts of stuff.

Nothing wrong with me at all.

Actually I am getting off the piss, I'm off it until 10.00 AM these days.

Drop in the Pound is fuking with my disability pension.

Originally Posted by misskit

A single drink was defined as containing 10 milliliters (8 grams) of pure alcohol — the equivalent of a large glass of wine, a pint of 5 percent beer, or a shot of spirits such as whisky or vodka.

Those measurements are way off.

A large glass of wine would be 150ml at 13% would be 19.5 ml alcohol

A pint of beer at 5% would be 568 ml at 5% = 28.4 ml alcohol

A shot at 35 ml at 40% would be 14ml alcohol

I'm starting to forget little things and I'm in my mid 40s.

I assume it's age but maybe the booze is adding up.

‘Moderate’ drinking linked to brain damage: study

Then just drink to excess...

Sorted...

I bet there are a lot of posters on TD who are already moderate drinkers.

Far more collective damage to health is caused by reading and subsequently worrying about, pseudo-scientific reports.

I smashed a 750 Ml bottle of Scotch last night, went down lovely with my medication.

Bit rough at the moment but nothin a nice spliff wont fix up.

Moderate drinking is for faggots, just go fukin hard eh.

All good.

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

I'm starting to forget little things and I'm in my mid 40s.

I assume it's age but maybe the booze is adding up.

It doesn't look like the most robust study. Neuroplasticity means you can always change it... learn something new ...learn something hard ...nothing is fixed.
You can forget things for all kinds of reasons at any age...

Originally Posted by misskit

Men and women who consume 14 to 21 drinks a week

that's moderate ? that's 3 bottle of wine per week, that's quite high and not moderate drinking IMO

Originally Posted by Neverna

I bet there are a lot of posters on TD who are already moderate drinkers.

LT ?

who is the nice lady in your avatar ? pornstar ?

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

I'm starting to forget little things and I'm in my mid 40s.

I assume it's age but maybe the booze is adding up.

Weren't you saying you were having sleep issues? I think that's a far more probable explanation. Combination of too much drink too little sleep may be at play though as well.

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

that's moderate ? that's 3 bottle of wine per week, that's quite high and not moderate drinking IMO

Kind of depends on how they are spaced out. 2 drinks a day seems pretty moderate, 14 in one night....not so much

I still remember Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones rock band that was famous in the sixties, he hasn't suffered memory loss, and he's been a moderate drinker for years.
If you remember Keith Richards your doing alright.

Originally Posted by Warwick

Far more collective damage to health is caused by reading and subsequently worrying about, pseudo-scientific reports.

You gotta wonder when the scientists come out with a different story every few years.

I am currently going through a phase of eating 100g of leafy greens every day.

I started cause I read it was healthy but I kind of enjoy them now.

But chances are in 2027 there will be conclusive proof that leafy greens lead to bowel cancer or something.

Originally Posted by Dragonfly

Originally Posted by Neverna

I bet there are a lot of posters on TD who are already moderate drinkers.

LT ?

who is the nice lady in your avatar ? pornstar ?

She's a model.

Originally Posted by Looper

Originally Posted by Warwick

Far more collective damage to health is caused by reading and subsequently worrying about, pseudo-scientific reports.

You gotta wonder when the scientists come out with a different story every few years.

I am currently going through a phase of eating 100g of leafy greens every day.

I started cause I read it was healthy but I kind of enjoy them now.

But chances are in 2027 there will be conclusive proof that leafy greens lead to bowel cancer or something.

Looper ... are you also taking Warfin?

Any type of blood thinner?