No Safe Level of Alcohol Consumption

Source: Anya Topiwala, "No safe level of alcohol consumption for brain health: observational cohort study of 25,378 UK Biobank participants," medRxiv, 12 May 2021.

"No safe dose of alcohol for the brain was found. Moderate consumption is associated with more widespread adverse effects on the brain than previously recognised. Individuals who binge drink or with high blood pressure and BMI may be more susceptible. Detrimental effects of drinking appear to be greater than other modifiable factors. Current ‘low risk’ drinking guidelines should be revisited to take account of brain effects."

"Higher volume of alcohol consumption per week was associated with lower grey matter density almost globally."

"Widespread negative associations were also found between alcohol consumption and all the white matter integrity measures assessed."

"High blood pressure and BMI steepened the negative association between alcohol and brain health."

"Those binging daily had a significantly lower total grey matter volume than never bingers, even after controlling for total alcohol volume consumed weekly."

"Additive harmful effects of alcohol volume and frequent binging were observed. In contrast there was no evidence that effects can be differentiated according to alcohol beverage type."

"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians 5:4-9).