In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleHow Alcohol Is DigestedHow Much Alcohol Is Safe?The ProsThe ConsFAQs
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
How Alcohol Is Digested
How Much Alcohol Is Safe?
The Pros
The Cons
FAQs
There’s no denying that drinking alcohol can be an enjoyable way to blow off steam after a hectic day. Unwinding with a beer or aglass of winecan also help alleviate social anxiety and forge bonds with friends, co-workers and neighbors. And given that86% of Americans aged 18 and olderhave consumed alcohol at some point, it’s evident that alcohol is deeply ingrained in our culture. But while moderate alcohol consumption is associated with some health benefits, regularly drinking too much can significantly impact your brain health.
But how much is “too much?” What are the pros and cons of alcohol? To help answer these questions, we spoke with experts who shared their insights. Plus, we delve into the research so you can find out how drinking alcohol is affecting your brain health.
There’s a time and place for everything, and alcohol is no exception. However, the verdict is out about what amount is considered safe: Some research points to some health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. However, other experts have suggested thatno amount of alcohol consumption is safe. A 2021 study published inNutrientsfound that chronic alcohol consumption can alter the structure of your brain and lead to “functional dysregulation of key brain systems that control behavior such as reward processing, impulse control and emotional regulation.”
“Alcohol is toxic to every single cell in your body. We also have to consider not just the alcohol itself, but the amount of alcohol ingested, the frequency with which a person ingests alcohol, and whether the individual has preexisting medical issues,” states Rohaidy.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake
“For those with certain health conditions, on certain medications, under the age of 21, pregnant or at risk of becoming pregnant, and those who can’t control how much they drink, no amount of alcohol is considered safe,” cautions Schlichter.
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Alcohol may improve cognitive function.
Some research has indicated positive associations between alcohol consumption and cognition, according to a 2020 study published inJAMA. In the cohort study of 19,887 participants, researchers found that low to moderate drinking (less than eight drinks per week for women and less than 15 drinks per week for men) was significantly associated with a consistently higher “cognitive function trajectory.” This included increased cognition scores for mental status, word recall and vocabulary and a lower rate of cognitive decline.
Alcohol may boost your mood.
A 2017 study published inDrug and Alcohol Dependenceexamined the effects of alcohol on mood. The research concluded that drinking alcohol was associated with a greater positive mood and reduced negative mood while drinking. However, the researchers noted that those who reported using alcohol to cope with anxiety experienced fewer mood benefits.
“A drink may also boost your mood and levels of serotonin, a feel-good chemical produced in your brain, although mostly in the short-term,” explains Schlichter. “These short-term benefits may extend to increased comfort, relaxation and increased social interactions.”
Alcohol may increase the risk of neurodegenerative disease.
“Research has linked higher iron levels in the brain with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s,” says Schlichter. According to a July 2022 study published inPLOS Onethat included 20,729 participants, consuming more than four standard drinks per week may change iron levels in the brain, which can spike the risk of neurodegenerative disease. “Higher iron levels have also been correlated with slower executive function and reaction times,” Schlichter states.
Alcohol may reduce brain volume.
If you want to preserve brain volume as you age, abstaining from alcohol might help. In a March2022 study published inNature Communications, researchers observed that consuming one to two daily drinks can reduce brain volume. In addition, the total amount of volume lost increased as alcohol consumption went up.
The Bottom Line
Alcohol won’t be going away anytime soon. While drinking alcohol can serve a purpose in a healthy, balanced diet and help you unwind, there is conflicting science on whether any amount of alcohol consumption is good for you. So when you decide to kick back with some drinks, drink responsibly and limit yourself to one or two drinks daily to support your brain health and helpprevent cognitive decline.
Frequently Asked QuestionsOnce ingested, alcohol first affects yourprefrontal cortex. “The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for judgment and reasoning,” says Rohaidy. “The frontal lobe is the area that helps with problem-solving, good judgment and goal-oriented behaviors.“Alcohol is a neurotoxinthat can kill brain cells. “While some brain cells can be regenerated over time, damage may be permanent as alcohol has long-lasting effects on neurotransmitters in the brain,” explains Schlichter. Additionally, higher alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased risk of dementia, says a 2020 review published inNeuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.Someresearchsuggests that brain shrinkage from chronic alcohol use can be partially reversed with complete abstinence. In addition,an older studyfound that eliminating alcohol intake increased brain volume.“Vitamin supplements and complete abstinence from alcohol may reverse symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a brain and memory disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency that may result from alcohol, within the first two years after stopping drinking,” says Schlichter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once ingested, alcohol first affects yourprefrontal cortex. “The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for judgment and reasoning,” says Rohaidy. “The frontal lobe is the area that helps with problem-solving, good judgment and goal-oriented behaviors.”
Alcohol is a neurotoxinthat can kill brain cells. “While some brain cells can be regenerated over time, damage may be permanent as alcohol has long-lasting effects on neurotransmitters in the brain,” explains Schlichter. Additionally, higher alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased risk of dementia, says a 2020 review published inNeuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.
Someresearchsuggests that brain shrinkage from chronic alcohol use can be partially reversed with complete abstinence. In addition,an older studyfound that eliminating alcohol intake increased brain volume.“Vitamin supplements and complete abstinence from alcohol may reverse symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a brain and memory disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency that may result from alcohol, within the first two years after stopping drinking,” says Schlichter.
Someresearchsuggests that brain shrinkage from chronic alcohol use can be partially reversed with complete abstinence. In addition,an older studyfound that eliminating alcohol intake increased brain volume.
“Vitamin supplements and complete abstinence from alcohol may reverse symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a brain and memory disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency that may result from alcohol, within the first two years after stopping drinking,” says Schlichter.
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