A study from Wake Forest University has found that drinking alcohol, even in moderate amounts, may speed up the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, is responsible for 60% to 80% of dementia cases worldwide.
While it is known that heavy alcohol use increases the risk of Alzheimer’s, this new research shows that even modest alcohol intake could worsen the disease’s effects on the brain.
In this study, scientists explored how alcohol affects brain health by using a 10-week experiment on mice genetically engineered to mimic Alzheimer’s disease. The mice had the option to drink water or alcohol, reflecting how people often choose to drink at their own pace.
This setup allowed researchers to observe how moderate alcohol consumption impacted brain structure and behavior in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Results showed that alcohol increased brain cell loss (atrophy) and the formation of amyloid plaques, clumps of toxic proteins that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
Interestingly, alcohol not only led to more plaques overall but also produced smaller plaques that could multiply over time, potentially leading to more severe brain damage as the disease advances.
Additionally, the study found that stopping alcohol suddenly could raise levels of amyloid-beta, a major component of these plaques. This suggests that withdrawal from alcohol might also have a harmful impact on the brain, even for moderate drinkers.
Beyond plaque formation, researchers observed that alcohol disrupted the brain’s metabolism and increased blood sugar levels, both of which are linked to Alzheimer’s progression.
Earlier research by Macauley, who led the study, has shown that high blood sugar can raise amyloid-beta levels.
This study supports those findings by showing that moderate alcohol use can lead to elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance—risk factors not only for Alzheimer’s but also for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Alcohol use in the study also influenced behaviors related to anxiety and dementia, hinting at broader effects on mental health and cognitive function.
These findings indicate that alcohol could be a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s, meaning that reducing or avoiding alcohol might help slow down or prevent the disease’s progression.
The study, led by Dr. Shannon Macauley, was published in Neurobiology of Disease and adds to the understanding of how lifestyle factors, like alcohol consumption, can influence Alzheimer’s and overall brain health.
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For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
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