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Finding out how alcohol affects Dementia will make you think twice about your next drink
Alcohol can be enjoyable for a number of reasons, triggering the brains endorphin system, increasing confidence in people and making social settings more fun. However, the effects of alcohol are short-lived and can lead to negative impacts, including how it affects dementia.
It is not news that alcohol is bad for your health, but an expert neurologist has explained how alcohol can make dementia symptoms worse. This might make you think twice about your next drink.
Alcohol makes dementia symptoms worse
World-renowned neurologist Dr Ann Mckee appeared on The Diary of a CEO podcast to discuss dementia and Alzheimers.
Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities, and Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia – according to Alzheimer’s Association.
In the brain doctor episode, Dr Ann explained that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can certainly help prevent dementia, and it is important to ensure you are regularly using cognitive functions to keep your brain in check.
When it comes to alcohol, its not looking good. The expert clarifies that alcohol makes dementia symptoms worse.
The expert reveals that alcohol can damage your brain in entirely different ways than Alzheimer’s. Drinking alcohol can exacerbate symptoms of dementia; it can make your symptoms worse.
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While there is currently no direct connection between alcohol and Alzheimer’s, Dr Ann clarifies that scientists understand it is not good for your brain health. It damages parts of the brain that can lead to cognitive problems.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that alcohol makes it harder for the brain areas controlling balance, memory, speech, and judgment to do their jobs, resulting in a higher likelihood of injuries and other negative outcomes.
Expert advice to avoid dementia
Dementia symptoms can be worsened by alcohol as it can increase confusion and disorientation in people with dementia.
The risk of falls in people with dementia can be increased due to alcohol intake. Alcohol can also accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by increasing the loss of brain cells and amyloid plaques
To lessen the symptoms of the common disease, Dr Ann suggests staying socially connected, using and challenging your brain. High cognitive reserve and high cognitive ability give you strength; strengthening your brain and building brain resilience against these diseases.
Physical activity and mental fitness can also help, along with challenging your brain, keeping active and developing a high cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is essentially your brain’s ability to improvise and find alternate ways of getting a job done, Health Harvard explains.
Staying fit and consuming a suitable diet should also be a priority because cardiovascular health is intimately connected to Alzheimer’s disease.
You want to avoid high blood sugar issues like diabetes. During the podcast discussion, Dr Ann summarises that avoiding dementia symptoms is “really a story of staying healthy.” So it’s a good idea to refrain from drinking!
Dr Ann McKee is a Head Trauma Neurologist, the director of the CTE and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers at Boston University.
