A new study from researchers at UK DRI at Imperial has shown that even low alcohol consumption is associated with structural changes in multiple organ systems including the brain, heart and liver. The findings suggest a possible relationship between alcohol and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, say the authors, who also urge that current guidelines on drinking alcohol need to be revisited.
Published today (1 June) in the journal eLife, the team from UK DRI at Imperial led by Group Leader Prof Paul Elliott, analysed magnetic resonance images of the brain, heart, arteries and liver from thousands of late middle-aged study participants available in the UK Biobank database.
The researchers compared self-reported alcohol intake with structural changes in these organs, finding that increasing alcohol consumption was associated with reduced brain matter volume, increased heart ventricle mass and increased fat on the liver. These effects have been linked to conditions such as Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular and liver disease. Importantly, the study findings suggest that that there is no lower threshold to the associations seen between alcohol and structural changes, meaning even low alcohol intake could be harmful.
Study lead Prof Paul Elliott, Group Leader from UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial, Chair in Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine at Imperial said:
"In the UK and many places worldwide, it is recommended that men and women avoid more than one or two alcoholic drinks a day. Our results suggest that intake below these levels could still lead to pathological structural and functional changes across multiple organs. Therefore, we recommend that current public health guidelines around alcohol consumption are reconsidered."
No more than 14 units of alcohol each week were recommended in new UK alcohol guidelines introduced in 2016 by the Department of Health
We now are at a point where we can begin to define environmental and lifestyle factors contributing to dementia in precise ways that can help people take positive steps to reduce their risk.Study co-author Prof Paul MatthewsCentre Director at UK DRI at Imperial
It is well known that excessive, high alcohol intake is associated with damage to multiple organs and increased mortality. According to the Global Burden of Diseases Study, alcohol use was the seventh leading risk factor for both deaths and Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALYs) in 2016. However, until now it has been unclear whether low- or moderate- drinking across the general population is harmful or even beneficial, as has been suggested when looking at cardiovascular health.
The team from UK DRI at Imperial have previously used data from the UK Biobank to explore relationships between modifiable risk factors such as alcohol intake, diabetes and obesity and harmful effects on the brain. This includes a study showing that, in addition to ageing, these factors are associated with atrophy in areas of the brain sensitive to early Alzheimer’s pathology, and reduced cognitive performance.
Additionally, the researchers have found that some genetic pathways associated with alcohol consumption are also shared with neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia.
Study co-author Prof Paul Matthews, Centre Director at UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London, Edmond and Lily Safra Chair, NIHR Senior Investigator, and Head of the Department of Brain Sciences, said:
“We now are at a point where we can begin to define environmental and lifestyle factors contributing to dementia in precise ways that can help people take positive steps to reduce their risk. This study is not about something that is abstract - it graphically highlights harmful effects of alcohol for health of the brain and body even when it is consumed in moderation, a message that should resonate with most of us.”
In July 2020, a Lancet report suggested 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by targeting 12 risk factors throughout life, including alcohol consumption.
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Article published: 01 June 2021
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