Moderate drinking linked to cognitive decline in consumers: Study

*Researchers discovered drinking was associated with more iron in the brain

Isola Moses |  ConsumerConnect

Previous research on alcohol consumption has already linked drinking with changes in brain size.  Experts have found now, that moderate drinking can also be a factor in cognitive decline.

Researchers publishing their work in the journal PLOS Medicine stated that moderate drinking can lead to excessive iron accumulation in the brain. This is concerning because these iron deposits could contribute to health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Anya Topiwala, one of the researchers, stated: “We found drinking greater than 7 units of alcohol weekly associated with iron accumulation in the brain.”

In exploring how iron in the brain linked to cognitive decline for the study, the researchers analysed about 21,000 consumers who took part in the United Kingdom (UK) Biobank.

Each participant reported their alcohol consumption, had MRIs taken of their brain, and completed a series of cognitive and motor function tests, agency report said.

The team found that drinking more than 7 units of alcohol per week − or the equivalent of 56 grams −was associated with higher iron markers in the brain’s basal ganglia region.

The also opined this brain area is responsible for motor control, procedural learning, eye movement, cognition, and emotions, among other things.

Based on the evidence they collected, the researchers say it’s likely that brain iron accumulation is a potential factor in declining brain health.

Topiwala also said: “Higher brain iron in turn linked to poorer cognitive performance.

“Iron accumulation could underlie alcohol-related cognitive decline.”