A new study from Mass General Brigham shows that drinking too much alcohol may lead to more serious brain bleeds and damage to brain blood vessels at a younger age.
The research focused on people treated for brain bleeds at Massachusetts General Hospital and was published in the journal Neurology.
A brain bleed, also called a hemorrhagic stroke, happens when a blood vessel inside the brain bursts. This is one of the most dangerous and deadly conditions a person can face.
It often happens suddenly, causes major damage, and can leave people with serious long-term disabilities. According to lead author Dr. Edip Gurol, only 20% of people who suffer from a brain bleed are able to take care of themselves independently a year later.
The study looked at 1,600 people treated for brain bleeds between 2003 and 2019. These patients did not have bleeds caused by accidents or injuries. CT scans were used to look at the size and location of the bleeding, and MRI scans were used to check for damage in the small blood vessels in the brain.
About 7% of the people in the study said they drank three or more alcoholic drinks a day. These heavy drinkers were much younger when they had a brain bleed—the average age was 64—compared to 75 for non-drinkers.
Their brain bleeds were also about 70% larger. They were more likely to have bleeding deep inside the brain or bleeding that spread into fluid-filled areas of the brain.
Even people who drank only two drinks a day were more likely to have a brain bleed at a younger age.
The heavy drinkers also had lower platelet counts, which means their blood had a harder time clotting. Their blood pressure was also higher when they arrived at the hospital. Both of these issues raise the risk of bleeding.
The study also found that heavy drinkers had more signs of damage in their brain’s tiny blood vessels. Damage in these vessels is linked to dementia, memory problems, and difficulty walking. It’s also a major risk factor for brain bleeds.
The researchers believe that drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure, which weakens small blood vessels in the brain. These weakened vessels are more likely to burst. On top of that, having fewer platelets makes it harder to stop the bleeding. Together, these factors greatly increase the risk and severity of a brain bleed.
The research team says that drinking less alcohol is an important way to protect brain and heart health. Dr. Gurol noted that even people who are not at high risk for brain bleeds could lower their chances of stroke by limiting alcohol to no more than three drinks a week.
However, the study does have some limitations. Alcohol use was self-reported by the patients, which might not always be accurate. The number of heavy drinkers in the study was small, and most patients were white, which may not represent all people. Also, because the study only looked at one point in time, it cannot prove that alcohol directly caused the brain bleeds.
The researchers suggest that more studies should be done with larger and more diverse groups. Future research could explore how different amounts of alcohol affect brain aging, blood vessel damage, and other types of strokes, such as those caused by blockages.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that Thanks to his wife’s quick reaction, postal worker fully recovered from a stroke and new hope for people with irregular heartbeat to prevent stroke.
For more health information, please read studies that Stronger high blood pressure treatment may help prevent stroke in older people and Stroke death risk increases again after falling for 40 years.
The study is published in Neurology.
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