Alcohol is implicated in about 8 per cent of all dementia cases, the study suggests TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLEHeavy drinking triples the risk of dementia and most early cases of the disorder are caused by alcohol misuse, the largest study of its kind concluded. Scientists said that severe alcohol misuse could directly cause brain damage but that the priority now was to pin down exactly what level of daily drinking increased the risk of dementia. While some research has linked heavy drinking to dementia other studies found that moderate levels of alcohol may protect against the disease. In the latest study French researchers looked at people with a hospital diagnosis of alcohol dependence or other drink-related conditions among 1.1 million people with dementia. Dependence is defined as craving or preoccupation with alcohol drinking despite clear harmful consequences.

Source: The Times February 21, 2018 00:01 UTC