Study finds increased risk of stroke linked to consuming a certain amount of alcohol
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A new study suggests that pouring a third drink could spell trouble for your brain.
Harvard researchers have found that people who drink three or more alcoholic drinks a day can suffer a stroke more than a decade earlier than people who drink less.
The research, published this week in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, links heavy alcohol consumption not only to previous strokes, but also to larger, more fatal brain bleeds and long-term brain damage.
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The study analyzed data from 1,600 adults with an average age of 75 who were hospitalized for intracerebral hemorrhage, a type of stroke caused by bleeding inside the brain.
During their hospital stay, participants were asked about their drinking habits, either directly or through family members.
Harvard researchers have found that people who drink three or more alcoholic drinks a day can suffer a stroke more than a decade earlier than people who drink less. (iStock)
Of the 1,600 participants, about 7% were classified as heavy drinkers.
The researchers defined binge drinking as having three or more drinks a day, where one drink is equivalent to a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor.
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Brain scans revealed the severity of the bleeds and whether patients showed signs of cerebral small vessel disease, a condition that damages tiny blood vessels in the brain and is linked to aging, high blood pressure and dementia.
Heavy drinkers experienced brain bleeds at an average age of 64, compared with 75 years for non-heavy drinkers, a difference of 11 years. Their brain bleeds were also 70% higher on average.
The researchers defined “binge drinking” as having three or more drinks a day, with one drink equal to a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor. (Getty Images)
Heavy drinkers were also twice as likely to suffer deep bleeds in the brain and almost twice as likely to suffer bleeds that spread to the fluid-filled spaces of the brain, a serious complication called intraventricular extension, the study found.
Additionally, they were three times more likely to suffer severe white matter damage, which is linked to long-term cognitive decline and brain aging.
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While alcohol has previously been linked to stroke risk, this research shows that it can also accelerate small vessel disease, making the brain more vulnerable to serious strokes and slower recovery, according to lead author Dr. M. Edip Gurol of Harvard University.
“Reducing excessive alcohol consumption may not only reduce a person’s risk of suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, but it may also slow the progression of brain small vessel disease, which in turn may reduce the chances of suffering another stroke, cognitive decline, and long-term disability,” Gurol said in a news release.
“Excessive alcohol consumption is also associated with high blood pressure, which is a contributing factor to this type of stroke.”
Jennifer Tujague, chief scientist at the International Alliance for Responsible Consumption (IARD) in Washington, DC, was not involved in the study but shared her reaction with News Digital.
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“These results appear to be consistent with previous epidemiological studies that have found an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption,” he said.
“Excessive alcohol consumption is also associated with high blood pressure, which is a contributing factor to this type of stroke.”
The researchers found that heavy drinkers in the study had brain bleeds that were 70% larger than those of non-heavy drinkers. (iStock)
The authors noted that the study had some limitations, including the fact that it was a cross-sectional study design, meaning it analyzed data from a single point in time rather than following people over a longer period.
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Because of this, researchers can’t say for sure whether drinking caused the strokes or just made them worse.
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Alcohol consumption was also self-reported, meaning people could have underestimated or overestimated how much they drank. Lifelong drinking habits were also not available.
News Digital has contacted the Distilled Spirits Council for comment.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant at News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of topics including food and drink, travel and health.