Health officials in England suggest that cutting back on drinking alcohol can lower the risk of dementia in later life.
The holiday season is full of parties and spending time with friends and family. Many people cross the recommended daily intake of alcohol during the holiday season, especially on New Year's Eve. However Alistair Burns, the national clinical director for dementia in England, suggests that people should make a New Year resolution to cut down on drinking in the coming year.
Burns reiterates that reduced alcohol consumption has positive physical as well as mental impact on people.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals more than 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia, in 2013. The number may increase to 14 million by 2050. There is no known cure for the disease and the disease costs billions of dollars each year to the U.S. government.
Many people do not have control over drinking and do not realize when they have consumed too much alcohol.
"It can be very easy for one glass to lead to two and then to a bottle and this can seriously increase your risk of developing dementia in later life along with many other health conditions," says Burns.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans defines moderate alcohol consumption as two drinks each day for men and one drink or less for women. The consumption of alcohol impacts various human body organs. In case of excessive drinking, the liver takes only what it can absorb, and distribute the rest to other parts of the body, which includes the brain.
Previous studies have linked alcohol drinking with various medical conditions such as liver damage, breast cancer and more. Consumption of excessive alcohol drinks is also considered a social evil as it can result in intentional or unintentional injuries, violence and more.
A study conducted at the University College London (UCL) earlier this year involved 5,000 men and 2,000 females in their midlife. The study found that the middle age men who consumed more than two drinks each day were more likely to experience decline in cognitive function and loss in memory in later part of their lives in comparison to men who drank less or did not drink at all.
Burns suggest that stopping drinking may not be possible for many people but cutting back on alcohol consumption is definitely achievable.
