New Delhi: A new study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine on September 23, 2025, shows that even drinking a little alcohol may raise the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders, which is not what most people think.
The study looked at information from over 500,000 people and genetic information from another 2 million people. It concluded that drinking any amount of alcohol, even tiny amounts or on occasion, can be bad for brain function.
Earlier research suggested that moderate drinking would be good for you, but these latest results go against that idea. Researchers said that the benefits that seemed to be there in earlier trials were not real since patients who later had dementia tended to drink less alcohol in the years leading up to their diagnosis.
The study also showed that people who are genetically more likely to acquire alcohol use disorder had a 15–16% higher risk of getting dementia.
Experts claim that these results show how important it is to change public health advice. They also indicate that no amount of alcohol is completely safe for brain health. Cutting back on alcohol, especially for middle-aged adults, may lower the chance of cognitive decline later in life.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for professional medical advice.