Posted on 09/09/2020 3:08:13 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Men who lose consciousness after drinking alcohol are up to three times as likely to develop dementia within the next 10 years, according to an analysis published Wednesday by JAMA Network Open.
Women who "passed out" after consuming alcohol were more than twice as likely to develop dementia over the next decade, the data showed.
Overall, the risk for early-onset dementia -- which develops in people age 65 and younger -- was twice as high among drinkers who "passed out," the researchers said.
"Our analysis ... suggests that binge drinking is a long-term dementia risk factor even if a person usually drinks moderately," study co-author Mika Kivimaki, a professor of epidemiology at University College London, told UPI.
Up to 6 million Americans have dementia, which may cause memory loss and communication problems, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Research suggests that consumption of high quantities of alcohol in a short time can lead to "neurotoxic levels of alcohol," which can cause health complications, Kivimaki said.
One sign of alcohol neurotoxicity is losing consciousness or passing out, he said
It's possible that high alcohol consumption increases a person's risk for other diseases -- like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure -- which "contribute to dementia risk," according to Kivimaki.
More than one in four U.S. adults 18 years old and older acknowledge they "binge drink" -- or consume four or more drinks over a two-hour period -- the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates.
To maintain a healthy level of consumption, men should drink no more than two alcoholic beverages per day -- or 14 per week -- while women should limit their intake to one drink per day, or seven per week, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
RELATED Getting dizzy when standing could be risk factor for dementia For this study, Kivimaki and his colleagues reviewed data on more than 130,000 adults in Britain, France, Sweden and Finland, more than 1,000 of whom -- or 0.8% -- developed dementia over the course of a 14-year period.
Those who consumed more than 14 drinks per week, on average, were 16% more likely to develop dementia, compared to those who consumed less than the CDC's threshold, the data showed.
Overall, 10% of the study participants admitted that they had lost consciousness -- or "passed out" -- due to alcohol consumption during the past year.
Even if they reported "moderate" drinking normally -- defined as 14 drinks or less per week -- those who lost consciousness due to alcohol consumption at least once were just over twice as likely to develop dementia, the data showed.
"We found that alcohol-induced loss of consciousness was linked to doubling of dementia risk among both moderate and heavy drinkers," Kivimaki said.
And ruin the surprise when it’s delivered?
Nausea and headaches? That’s what pot is for. THC = Total Hangover Cure.
Yes.
I was never much of a drinker. I got sick drinking at a high school graduation party when I was 17 in 1965. Hadn’t had any hard liquor before that, and I hadn’t eaten all day. I was sick for about 3 days. I’d been drinking highballs that night, and even today, I can’t stand the smell of whiskey. I think after that, I had a built-in safety net that prevented me from imbibing too much. I’d get to a point that the thought of another drink turned my stomach, and that was my clue to stop where I was. The last time I had alcohol of any kind was when I was on a bus tour of the U.K. in 2006, and I had a beer when we stopped at a pub. I don’t even like beer, and didn’t finish it.. I don’t drink anymore because I’m diabetic.
No joke. i figured I’d just grow some new brain cells.
No mention of hereditary conditions. 1000 out of 130000 studied developed dementia in 14 years time.
They do mention that diabetes and high blood pressure could also play a role and then mentions that both can be caused by drinking alcohol. But both can also be found in family history.
Wish I’d known that 30 years ago.
Haha me too! My southern SEC collage was quite fun!
“Nausea and headaches” are the result of drinking stupidly, not drinking in general.
Pace yourself, have plenty of water alongside, and don’t drink shit from the bottom shelf. No hangover.
Dean Martin said something to effect that he felt sorry for people who did not drink, knowing that when they woke up that would be the best they felt that day.
But tee totalers are not protected from Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
It’s certainly a marker of stupidity....
I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.
What if I drink a good bottle of whisky over 4 or 5 or 6 days but don’t pass out.
What’s my risk ?
How often???? I don’t hardly drink anymore but I did binge drink for a while in my 20’s and into my early 30’s. I didn’t drink often but when I drank I drank to get drunk! But that’s been 20 somethings years.
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