There are different views about alcohol in society: some say that “drinking a little is not harmful,” but scientists continue to refute this opinion with research results. A new study published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine showed that the consumption of alcoholic beverages, regardless of the amount, significantly increases the risk of dementia — that is, mental weakness and memory problems.
Analysts note that the more a person drinks, the higher the likelihood of developing mental and neurological illnesses. This does not depend on whether a person has a genetic predisposition — even someone not naturally inclined to dementia can suffer from excessive drinking.
Cambridge University researcher Stephen Burgess said about this: “For any person who chooses to drink, our study showed a clear result — the more alcohol consumed, the higher the risk of dementia. Even moderate, small amounts are not free from risk.”
In the framework of the study, about 560,000 people in the UK and USA were observed over several years. At the first stage, they were asked how much they drank, and then the link between alcohol and dementia risk was thoroughly analyzed. Scientists also took into account genetic characteristics and studied how this factor affects a person’s life over time.
The results showed that in people genetically predisposed to alcoholism, the risk is even higher. For example, for those who drink three times a week, the likelihood of developing dementia is 15 percent higher compared to those who drink once a week.
According to specialists, one should not believe in the claim that “a little drinking does no harm.” Even small amounts of alcohol can cause damage in the human brain and over time destroy memory, attention, and thinking ability.
Doctors call on the population, especially young people, to be careful with alcoholic beverages. They emphasize that giving up alcohol not only prevents dementia but also improves overall health and quality of life.
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