Common drink linked to higher Alzheimer's risk in new study

A groundbreaking study has indicated that drinking alcohol might speed up the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The dangers of excessive alcohol consumption are well-known, with numerous studies highlighting its connection to a greater risk of liver disease, heart disease, and even cancer.

However, this latest research, published in the eNeuro journal, suggests that heavy drinking could be far more hazardous than we thought, as it reveals a link between Alzheimer's and alcohol use disorder (AUD) through similar changes in gene expression patterns within the brain. This discovery implies that alcohol could foster the development of Alzheimer's by triggering comparable molecular processes and subsequent cognitive decline seen in the disease.

Pietro Paolo Sanna, a professor at Scripps Research's immunology and microbiology department and the study's senior author, said: "We found several cell-type-specific genes and pathways that are dysregulated in both Alzheimer's disease and alcohol, which supports the hypothesis that alcohol use disorder can accelerate Alzheimer's disease progression by impinging on some of the same molecular mechanisms that are affected by Alzheimer's."

Researchers analysed ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing data from hundreds of thousands of individual brain cells from 75 patients at different stages of Alzheimer's disease, alongside data from 10 patients without the condition, as reported by the Mirror.

The study's findings revealed that both AUD and Alzheimer's are linked to similar alterations in brain gene function, including increased inflammation, disrupted cell signalling, and changes to blood vessel cells. According to study author Arpita Joshi: "It deepens our understanding of Alzheimer's disease and what the three clinically defined stages of Alzheimer's entail, and it underscores the importance of considering alcohol use disorder as a risk factor for Alzheimer's," reports the Daily Record.

However, the researchers noted that further testing with larger patient groups is needed to confirm their findings. With access to more extensive data on alcohol use, they plan to investigate the connection between AUD and Alzheimer's in greater detail. Joshi emphasized: "This is a global effort to unravel complex diseases at the single-cell level, which will lead to a better understanding of the molecular and cellular perturbations in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, alcohol use disorder, and their interactions."

The ultimate goal is to develop therapeutic methods to combat cognitive decline associated with both conditions. In the meantime, the Alzheimer's Society recommends avoiding certain risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's. According to the NHS, it cautions there isn't a "no completely safe level of drinking".

The guidance suggests staying below 14 units per week – equivalent to six pints of four percent beer – and recommends spreading this over three days or more.