Fig 1 UK 2016 guidelines on alcohol consumption (see www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/help-and-advi ... alculator/) (redrawn from Alcohol Concern, 2016)
(full article) http://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j2353Moderate alcohol consumption as risk factor for adverse brain outcomes and cognitive decline: longitudinal cohort study
BMJ, May 2017
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate whether moderate alcohol consumption has a favourable or adverse association or no association with brain structure and function.
Design: Observational cohort study with weekly alcohol intake and cognitive performance measured repeatedly over 30 years (1985-2015). Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at study endpoint (2012-15).
Main outcome measures: Structural brain measures included hippocampal atrophy, grey matter density, and white matter microstructure. Functional measures included cognitive decline over the study and cross sectional cognitive performance at the time of scanning.
Results: Higher alcohol consumption over the 30 year follow-up was associated with increased odds of hippocampal atrophy in a dose dependent fashion. While those consuming over 30 units a week were at the highest risk compared with abstainers (odds ratio 5.8, 95% confidence interval 1.8 to 18.6; P<=0.001), even those drinking moderately (14-21 units/week) had three times the odds of right sided hippocampal atrophy (3.4, 1.4 to 8.1; P=0.007). There was no protective effect of light drinking (1-<7 units/week) over abstinence. Higher alcohol use was also associated with differences in corpus callosum microstructure and faster decline in lexical fluency.
Conclusions: Alcohol consumption, even at moderate levels, is associated with adverse brain outcomes including hippocampal atrophy. These results support the recent reduction in alcohol guidance in the UK and question the current limits recommended in the US.
