Regular drinking causes memory problems in men

Men who drink more than two pints of beer a day are at a significantly greater risk of suffering from memory loss than those who drink a lower amount. Research has found that heavy drinking during middle age causes damage to the brain, which speeds up memory loss and cognitive decline.

The study spanned ten years and looked at the habits of 7,000 civil servants of both sexes. The study found that men who consumed significant amounts of alcohol on a regular basis suffered notable mental decline; however, those who averaged one and a half pints of beer a day, or a glass and a half of wine, suffered no noticeable decline in cognitive ability of memory.

The heaviest drinkers experienced memory loss equivalent to somebody ten years older, with men in their 60s suffering mental decline usually seen in men in their 70s.

While the ageing process is largely responsible for memory loss, this research has proved that alcohol abuse is also a driving factor. With so many people drinking excessively on a regular basis, it is no wonder that so many people are suffering from memory problems later in their life.

University College London’s Dr Severine Sabia said: “Much of the research evidence about drinking and a relationship to memory and executive function is based on older populations. Our study focused on middle-aged participants and suggests that heavy drinking is associated with faster decline in all areas of cognitive function in men.”

Previous studies have shown that daily alcohol can increase the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The NHS guideline is that there is no guaranteed safe limit for alcohol.