VERY WELL –
Sept. 30, 2025 – Greater alcohol consumption is linked to smaller volume in nearly all brain areas, but neuroimaging studies find that even at low (<7 standard drinks per week) or moderate levels of consumption was associated with smaller brain volume. The evidence has also been quite clear that excessive alcohol consumption (12 standard drinks/week) is a risk factor for dementia.
But here’s where it gets tricky: In the past, studies reported a J-shaped association, where no alcohol consumption is correlated with a slight increase in dementia risk and high consumption showed a much larger risk increase. This meant that light to moderate drinking was actually linked to lower dementia risk.
However, more recent research suggests that no amount of alcohol is safe, at least for dementia risk. Last week, a large study came out with evidence showing that increasing levels of alcohol consumption was linked to an increased risk of dementia. The research also found that people who developed dementia also decreased their alcohol intake over time, suggesting that cognitive decline could be causing people to drink less. This could account for the previous studies showing that some alcohol is protective.
