2023-09-08 12:39:01
Heavy drinking linked to increased risk of dementia: Symptoms and warning signs to watch out for
No longer knowing where the car is parked, no longer being interested in work, hobbies, and contacts, and ultimately even no longer recognizing one’s own children: these are just some of the symptoms that people with dementia may experience. And now, research suggests that heavy drinking can significantly increase the risk of developing dementia.
In Germany alone, around 1.6 million people are living with dementia. While the majority of cases are due to irreversible forms such as Alzheimer’s and vascular-related dementias, a small proportion of cases are caused by other underlying diseases, including chronic alcohol consumption, according to the Federal Ministry of Health.
The regular consumption of alcohol, particularly in large quantities, has been found to be a trigger for dementia. Alcohol is a poison that damages the human nervous system. There are two major forms of dementia: primary dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s and vascular-related dementia, and secondary dementia, which includes rare forms such as alcoholic dementia.
A recent study conducted by the Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research examined the connection between alcohol consumption and dementia. The researchers found that there are new cases of dementia diagnosed each year that can be attributed to alcohol.
Recognizing the symptoms and warning signs of dementia at an early stage is crucial in order to provide the appropriate support and help to those affected and their families. However, dementia often progresses gradually, and the first symptoms may only be recognized as such in hindsight.
The Ministry of Health has highlighted several warning signs and symptoms that may indicate dementia, including short-term memory loss, difficulty with habitual actions, difficulty speaking correctly, loss of interest in work, hobbies, and social interactions, difficulties with orientation especially in unfamiliar surroundings, loss of overview with finances or assessing dangers, and changes in personality.
Preventing alcohol-related dementia requires attention to certain risk factors. Researchers from the “DALKO” project have identified that the risk of developing dementia increases for individuals who are middle-aged (between 45 and 65 years old), consume alcohol on a daily basis, and consume more than 24 grams of pure alcohol.
To put this into perspective, drinking two 300 milliliter glasses of beer with a five percent alcohol content, half a liter of 12% wine, or two glasses of schnapps would exceed the recommended limit for daily alcohol consumption. It is important to note that even small amounts of alcohol can damage the brain, as confirmed by researchers at the University of Oxford in what they claim to be the largest study on the subject.
The findings from the “DALKO” researchers suggest that reducing alcohol consumption can lower the risk of alcohol-related dementia. However, they emphasize that regular consumption of large amounts of alcohol is still associated with cognitive function damage and an increased risk of dementia overall.]
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