Drinking three or more pints of beer or glasses of wine daily can significantly increase the risk of experiencing the most severe type of stroke, according to a recent study. Researchers have highlighted that heavy drinkers face a higher likelihood of suffering a severe stroke at a younger age and are three times more prone to displaying signs of brain aging.
A study conducted in the United States revealed that individuals consuming three or more alcoholic beverages per day, categorized as “heavy drinkers,” are at risk of encountering a bleeding stroke approximately 11 years earlier than those who do not fall into the heavy drinking category. Additionally, these heavy drinkers are more susceptible to experiencing “intracerebral haemorrhage,” a type of stroke resulting from brain bleeding, at a younger age and with more severity compared to non-heavy drinkers.
Published in the journal Neurology, the findings also indicate that heavy drinkers are more likely to exhibit signs of cerebral small vessel disease, which involves damage to the brain’s small blood vessels and represents a form of long-term brain injury. Dr. Edip Gurol, the lead author of the study from Harvard University, Boston, emphasized the gravity of intracerebral haemorrhage as the most fatal type of stroke, often caused by cerebral small vessel disease.
The study involved 1,600 adults with an average age of 75 who were hospitalized due to intracerebral haemorrhage. Detailed information on alcohol consumption was provided during hospital admission, either by the patients themselves or accompanying individuals.
According to the researchers, heavy alcohol use was defined as consuming three or more alcoholic drinks daily, with each drink equivalent to 14 grams or 0.6 ounces of alcohol. In the study group, 104 individuals (7%) met the criteria for heavy alcohol consumption.
Participants underwent brain scans to assess the stroke severity and detect signs of cerebral small vessel disease. The research team compared the outcomes of heavy drinkers with those who consumed fewer than three drinks per day or abstained from alcohol altogether.
The study revealed that heavy drinkers experienced a stroke at an average age of 64, in contrast to 75 for non-heavy drinkers, marking an 11-year disparity. Additionally, heavy drinkers had brain bleeds that were, on average, 70% larger.
Dr. Gurol highlighted that heavy drinkers were twice as likely to exhibit bleeding in deep brain regions and nearly twice as likely to suffer from bleeding spreading into the brain’s fluid-filled spaces, a condition known as intraventricular extension. These outcomes typically imply poorer recovery and health outcomes for individuals with brain bleeds.
Furthermore, heavy drinkers were over three times more likely to display severe signs of white matter damage, termed white matter hyperintensities, usually caused by cerebral small vessel disease. They were also nearly twice as likely to demonstrate a pattern of cerebral small vessel disease associated with chronic damage from high blood pressure.
Dr. Gurol pointed out that heavy drinkers had lower blood platelet counts and slightly elevated blood pressure upon hospital admission compared to non-heavy drinkers, factors contributing to stroke severity and recovery. He emphasized that reducing heavy alcohol consumption could not only decrease the risk of bleeding stroke but also slow the progression of cerebral small vessel disease, potentially reducing the likelihood of future strokes, cognitive decline, and long-term disability.
In conclusion, Dr. Gurol stressed the importance of promoting lifestyle changes such as abstaining from alcohol as part of stroke prevention efforts, especially for individuals at higher risk.