Effects of Moderate Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption is widespread within New Zealand society and considered an acceptable practice within most cultures and the varying demographic in our communities.

Most New Zealanders enjoy alcohol in moderation and do not fall within the category “binge drinking” or alcohol dependence. Most are informed of the potential dangers of unhealthy drinking patterns and how this may lead to alcohol dependence.

Long-Term Effects of Moderate Drinking

What we are beginning to discover though, is that even moderate drinking is related to unhealthy outcomes. Brain structure can be adversely affected including atrophy of the hippocampus with associated faster cognitive decline.

These findings were discovered in people who drank within the US safe limits which call into question the currently recommended guidelines. These findings also support the recent reduction in alcohol guidance in the United Kingdom.

In the United-Kingdom the new guidelines for low-risk drinking has decreased from 21 units to no more than 14 units per week for men and women, because of the increasing amount of evidence associating light drinking with cancer.

Researches have concluded “alcohol might represent a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment, and primary prevention interventions targeted to later life could be too late”

What is moderate alcohol consumption?

The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) recommends no more than 15 standard drinks of alcohol per week for men or 10 standard drinks for women. This means a daily limit of 3 standard drinks for men, and 2 standard drinks for women.

The Whitehall II study was established in 1985 at the University College of London and headed by Dr Topiwala. The study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic status, stress and cardiovascular health in over 10,000 nonindustrial civil servants.

Dr Topiwala and her group randomly selected 550 participants from this study to be a part of a Whitehall II brain imaging sub study, this was to ascertain if self-reported alcohol use over a 30-year period led to brain imaging pathology and memory decline.

What is concerning is that the data revealed that people who drank moderately (14 to 21 units per week) were at risk. These individuals had 3 times the odds of developing right-sided hippocampal atrophy than those who drank no alcohol at all. The hippocampus is the part of the brain involved in memory, shrinkage in this area is commonly found in Alzheimer’s disease.

The Whitehall II study also found that there was no positive or protective effect when reducing moderate drinking to “light”, defined as 1 to 7 drinks per week compared to non-drinkers. The idea that moderate drinking can be protective against dementia and other conditions has never been substantiated and the opposite appears to be true.

What has also become evident is that the way the brain communicates between the left and right hemispheres is adversely affected by moderate drinking. The corpus callosum is a wide, flat bundle of neural fibres about 10cm long beneath the cortex. It connects both cerebral hemispheres and facilitates communication between both.

Those who drink higher proportions within the moderate range can experience degradation of these fibres, similar in the way the aging population does. From evidence, we can ascertain that the term “low-risk drinking” is a misnomer and it would be more appropriate for health professionals to be advising abstinence over moderation. As far as heavy alcohol consumption is concerned potentially severe impairment in memory and executive function occur even when other risk factors are absent.

What can be difficult within the New Zealand population is helping people to recognise the extent of problem drinking especially when our definition of “moderate” drinking is in fact potentially damaging.

Social Drinking

Individual behaviour can be affected by environmental and peer influences including offers of alcohol and heavy drinking being modelled as a social norm. What research in New Zealand has shown is that one in three adults agreed that it was hard in some situations to say they were not drinking. What is encouraging is that one in three adults also agreed that people that they knew would listen if they made suggestions about cutting back on alcohol.

More Education Needed

What would be helpful is more education in New Zealand around alcohol and its detrimental effects on the brain. Moderate drinking can no longer be considered “low-risk” as the research discussed has proven that even light alcohol consumption comes with an associated danger to our health.

 

Reference:

Even Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Harm the Brain-Medscape – Jun 07, 2017

Profiling non – drinkers: 2014/15 ABAS – Health Promotion Agency – volume 5 issue 14, May 2016

Low – risk alcohol drinking advice – Alcohol.org.nz - 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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