Moderate, Heavy Alcohol Consumption Linked to Signs of Injury in the Brain

FRIDAY, April 11, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Moderate, heavy, and former heavy alcohol consumption are associated with hyaline arteriolosclerosis and neurofibrillary tangles, according to a study published online April 9 in Neurology.

Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo, Ph.D., from the University of São Paulo Medical School in Brazil, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Biobank for Aging Studies to examine the association between alcohol consumption and age-related neuropathologic outcomes. The analyses included 1,781 participants (mean age, 74.9 ± 12.5 years).

The researchers found that moderate, heavy, and former heavy alcohol consumption were associated with hyaline arteriolosclerosis compared with never consuming alcohol (odds ratios, 1.60, 2.33, and 1.89, respectively), while only heavy and former heavy alcohol consumption were associated with neurofibrillary tangles (odds ratios, 1.41 and 1.31, respectively). There was an association seen for former heavy drinking with a lower brain mass ratio and worse cognitive abilities (β, −4.45 and 1.31, respectively). Hyaline arteriolosclerosis fully mediated the association between impaired cognitive abilities and alcohol consumption (β, 0.13).

“We found heavy drinking is directly linked to signs of injury in the brain, and this can cause long-term effects on brain health, which may impact memory and thinking abilities,” Justo said in a press release. “Understanding these effects is crucial for public health awareness and continuing to implement preventive measures to reduce heavy drinking.”

One author disclosed ties to Genentech and Otsuka.

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