The maintenance of brain health is central to health and wellbeing across the lifespan. A BMJ article which can be found here investigates the effects of alcohol on brain health.
The study suggests that there are three periods of dynamic brain changes that maybe particularly sensitive to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol:
- Gestation
- Late Adolescence (15-19 years)
- Older Adulthood (over 65 years)
Gestation
Globally around 10% if women drink alcohol during pregnancy. Recent evidence suggests that even low to moderate levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is significantly associated with psychological and behavioural outcomes in offspring.
Adolescence
Over 20% of 15-19 year olds in Europe and other high income countries report at least occasional binge drinking. Studies indicate that this can be associated with reduced neocortical volume and functional connectivity, reduced white matter development, and small to moderate deficits in wide range of cognitive functions.
Over 65s
Alcohol use disorders have been shown to be one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for dementia compared with high blood pressure and smoking.