Researchers examined the autopsy results of deceased people aged 50 and older. They were categorized into four groups of drinkers: never, moderate, heavy, and former heavy.

The findings indicate that all levels of consumption were linked to an increased presence of hyaline arteriolosclerosis, a type of vascular damage that affects the smallest arteries in the body and brain.

Compared to those who never drank, moderate drinkers had a 60 percent higher chance of having the vascular condition, while heavy drinkers had a 133 percent increased risk. Former heavy drinkers also showed an 89 percent increased risk and had worse scores on cognitive assessments compared to never drinkers.

Former heavy drinking was also associated with a lower brain mass ratio, indicating a potential link between alcohol consumption and structural brain changes. Reduced brain mass (brain atrophy) is indicative of cognitive decline.

Alcohol can impair the brain’s blood vessels in various ways, including altered blood flow and spasms in capillaries and small veins. High concentrations of alcohol can also cause intense spasms causing blood vessels to rupture. Additionally, alcohol can disrupt the blood-brain barrier and alter its permeability.

To understand alcohol consumption patterns among deceased individuals, researchers administered a comprehensive questionnaire to the next of kin of the subjects. This questionnaire gathered details about the deceased’s alcohol intake during the three months leading up to death to minimize the impact of any lifestyle changes that may have occurred closer to that time.

Alcohol consumption was categorized based on the number of doses consumed and frequency, with one dose defined as 14 grams of alcohol—equivalent to approximately 350 mL of beer, 150 mL of wine, or 45 mL of distilled spirits.

Respondents classified alcohol consumption as “never” for those who abstained completely, “moderate” for individuals consuming up to 7 doses (98 grams) per week, “heavy” for those consuming eight or more doses (112 grams or more) weekly, and “former heavy” for individuals who had previously engaged in heavy drinking but had ceased their consumption up to three months before their death.

While there was no direct or overarching impact of alcohol consumption on cognitive abilities, participants who drank alcohol exhibited significantly higher Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes scores compared to their non-drinking peers, suggesting poorer cognitive function. This relationship was mediated by hyaline arteriosclerosis, indicating that the indirect effects of alcohol on cognition may be influenced by this condition.

Different Drinking Patterns Show Varying Effects

The study’s results suggest different patterns of alcohol consumption have varying effects on brain health.

Former heavy drinkers exhibited an average decrease in brain weight and poorer cognitive abilities, with their average scores on a dementia rating scale reflecting increased cognitive impairment.

Additionally, only heavy drinkers and former heavy drinkers had increased levels of neurofibrillary tangles, which are brain changes that can be linked to degenerative neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

“In our study, we found that heavy drinkers tended to die, on average, 13 years earlier than those who never drank alcohol,” the study authors wrote. Additionally, heavy drinkers showed a lower occurrence of chronic health issues like high blood pressure and strokes compared to non-drinkers.

AUD has “definitely” become more prevalent in recent years, “with COVID-19 being a huge factor in that,” Keefer Wurmstich, certified alcohol and drug counselor and outpatient dual diagnosis program director at Clear Behavioral Health, told The Epoch Times. The stress and isolation, along with economic instability and social norm shifts around drinking, may have also helped to contribute to the rise, he noted.

“Young adults, individuals with a family history of alcohol or drug abuse issues, and those with mental health disorders are more at risk for developing AUD,” he said.

Treatment and Prevention

Wurmstich said that AUD can be treated often through a combination of behavioral therapies, counseling, medication management, ongoing support groups, and a focus on the underlying mental health issues. “It depends on the severity,” he added. “But often detox treatment into residential treatment, into outpatient treatment with supportive housing (sober living), into outpatient treatment with parallel support groups, is the best approach to take.”

Wurmstich also cautioned that even casual drinking can carry risk “as patterns of consumption often evolve over time and could increase the likelihood of developing an AUD in adverse situations.”

AUD is less about the exact number of drinks and more about the negative impact drinking has on someone’s life, Pete Vernig, an addiction specialist at Recovery Centers of America, told The Epoch Times.

If a person finds they are drinking to cope with stress or other unpleasant emotions, are not in control of their alcohol use, are suffering from medical or emotional effects of alcohol, or are neglecting important responsibilities as a result of their drinking, “It is a good sign that they may have an alcohol use disorder.”