A recent study cautions that individuals consuming three or more pints of beer or glasses of wine daily increase their vulnerability to the most severe type of stroke. Those classified as heavy drinkers face a higher likelihood of encountering a severe stroke at a younger age and are three times more prone to displaying signs of brain aging, as per new research findings.
The research conducted in the United States indicated that individuals who regularly consume three or more alcoholic beverages a day, designated as “heavy drinkers,” are predisposed to experiencing a bleeding stroke approximately 11 years earlier than non-heavy drinkers. Furthermore, these heavy drinkers were observed to be at a heightened risk of encountering “intracerebral haemorrhage,” a form of stroke instigated by brain bleeding, at a younger age and with increased severity compared to their counterparts who do not engage in heavy drinking habits.
Published in the journal Neurology, the study also reveals that heavy drinkers are more likely to exhibit indications of cerebral small vessel disease, which denotes harm to small blood vessels in the brain and represents a form of enduring brain impairment. Dr. Edip Gurol, the lead author of the study from Harvard University, Boston, emphasized that intracerebral haemorrhage stands as the most fatal stroke type, with cerebral small vessel disease being its primary cause.
The research encompassed 1,600 adult participants, with an average age of 75, who were hospitalized due to intracerebral haemorrhage. Information regarding alcohol consumption was provided during hospital admission by either the patients themselves or accompanying individuals.
Heavy alcohol use was defined as the regular intake of three or more alcoholic drinks per day, with each drink containing 14 grams (0.6 ounces) of alcohol, equivalent to one UK alcohol unit of eight grams. Among the study participants, 104 individuals (7%) met the criteria for heavy alcohol consumption.
Participants underwent brain imaging to assess stroke severity and identify signs of cerebral small vessel disease. The research team then compared heavy drinkers with those who consumed fewer than three drinks daily or abstained from alcohol entirely.
The study revealed that heavy drinkers experienced a stroke at an average age of 64, whereas non-heavy drinkers faced a stroke at an average age of 75, signifying an 11-year discrepancy. Additionally, heavy drinkers encountered brain bleeds that were, on average, 70% larger.
Dr. Gurol highlighted that heavy drinkers were twice as likely to experience bleeding in deep brain regions and nearly twice as likely to endure bleeding extending into the brain’s fluid-filled spaces, a complication known as intraventricular extension. These outcomes typically suggest poorer recovery and health outcomes among individuals affected by brain bleeds.
In addition, heavy drinkers were over three times more likely to exhibit severe signs of white matter damage, termed white matter hyperintensities, commonly attributable to cerebral small vessel disease. They were also nearly twice as likely to demonstrate a pattern of cerebral small vessel disease reflecting chronic damage from high blood pressure.
Dr. Gurol pointed out that heavy drinkers presented lower blood platelet counts and slightly elevated blood pressure upon hospital admission compared to non-heavy drinkers, factors that could contribute to stroke severity and recovery outcomes. He emphasized that cutting back on heavy alcohol consumption may not only reduce the risk of bleeding stroke but could also decelerate the progression of cerebral small vessel disease, potentially lowering the chances of subsequent strokes, cognitive decline, and long-term disability.
Dr. Gurol suggested that advocating lifestyle modifications such as alcohol cessation should form a part of stroke prevention strategies, particularly for individuals at heightened risk.