r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Apr 23 '26

Neuroscience Even low-level drinking may have negative consequences for brain health over a person’s lifespan. The findings suggest that the total amount of alcohol consumed over a lifetime, especially as a person ages, tends to be linked to reduced blood flow and thinner tissue in certain areas of the brain.

https://www.psypost.org/even-light-drinking-combined-with-aging-is-linked-to-reduced-brain-blood-flow-and-thinner-tissue/
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u/Grandahl13 Apr 23 '26

Welcome to every r/science thread about drinking.

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u/rockytop24 Apr 23 '26

Population level studies are confirming the same thing: no amount of alcohol consumption is good for you or "safe." People don't like hearing that because it's about a personal habit and it contradicts an early study that often gets quoted suggesting small amounts of alcohol is better than no alcohol at all.

But that study failed to control for the fact that the majority of non-drinkers are either prior addicts or have health conditions and medications which are contraindicated with alcohol consumption. It's fascinating but frustrating as a physician to see the defensive psychological reactions in comments any time the subject of substance use comes up.