A recent study has highlighted the increased risk of the most severe form of stroke associated with heavy alcohol consumption. Individuals consuming three or more alcoholic beverages daily face a heightened likelihood of suffering a bleeding stroke earlier in life, as well as a threefold increase in brain aging indicators. Researchers from the United States discovered that heavy drinkers are prone to experiencing a bleeding stroke 11 years earlier than those with lower alcohol intake.
Published in the journal Neurology, the study also revealed that heavy drinkers exhibit signs of cerebral small vessel disease, linked to damage in the brain’s small blood vessels, leading to long-term brain injuries. Dr. Edip Gurol, the lead researcher from Harvard University, Boston, emphasized the detrimental impact of intracerebral hemorrhage, a deadly stroke type associated with heavy drinking.
The research involved 1,600 adults admitted for intracerebral hemorrhage, with heavy alcohol use defined as consuming three or more drinks daily. Brain scans were conducted to assess the stroke severity and small vessel disease signs among participants, comparing heavy drinkers to those with lower alcohol consumption levels.
The findings indicated heavy drinkers experienced strokes at an average age of 64, 11 years earlier than non-heavy drinkers, with larger brain bleeds. Dr. Gurol highlighted the increased likelihood of deep brain bleeding and complications like intraventricular extension among heavy drinkers, leading to poorer health outcomes and recovery.
Moreover, heavy drinkers exhibited severe white matter damage and patterns of cerebral small vessel disease associated with high blood pressure. Dr. Gurol emphasized the importance of reducing heavy alcohol consumption to mitigate the risks of bleeding strokes, slow down cerebral small vessel disease progression, and prevent further strokes, cognitive decline, and disabilities in the long term.
He recommended lifestyle changes, including alcohol cessation, as a crucial aspect of stroke prevention efforts, particularly for high-risk individuals.
