Binge drinkers risking DEMENTIA

[izzix]

Saturday, 1 November 2008

Binge-drinkers 'risking dementia'
Drunk girl
Binge-drinkers are at increased risk of dementia

Urgent action is needed to prevent Britain heading for a dementia epidemic caused by the nation's binge-drinking culture, experts have warned.

Research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry links excessive drinking and a loss of brain tissue.

Dr Susham Gupta and Dr James Warner said people are drinking almost double what they were in the 1960s and claimed cheaper alcohol could be a cause.

They said the problem might only be curbed by introducing tough laws.

Binge-drinking is associated with a higher risk of dementia.

While Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of the disease, alcohol is said to account for around a tenth of all cases, while heavy drinking to believed to contribute to almost a quarter.

The report writers pointed out the price of alcohol relative to average UK income has halved since the 1960s.

As drinking habits change, it is vital we understand more about the relationship between alcohol and this devastating condition

Dr Susanne Sorensen
Alzheimer's Society

Between the early part of that decade and 2000, alcohol consumption per head was said to have nearly doubled from less than six litres a year to more than 11.5 litres.

The pair said that if trends continued, within 10 years, the UK population would be drinking more alcohol than any other country in Europe.

They wrote: "Given the neurotoxic effects of alcohol and the inexorable increase in per capita consumption, future generations may see a disproportionate increase in alcohol-related dementia."

'Brain damage'

They said the association of "moderate drinking" with health benefits, binge-drinking was potentially "highly destructive".

At high intake levels, the benefits of alcohol were reversed leading to high blood pressure, raised levels of harmful blood fats, and brain damage.

They admitted any "public health initiatives" warning people about the risk could be "unpopular and ineffective" but felt legislation could be an option.

The issue was also discussed in September by psychiatrists at a conference hosted by Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling.

Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said that one in three people over 65 die with dementia.

She said: "Binge drinkers hitting the town on a Saturday night are becoming a familiar sight, but we don't yet understand how it will affect the numbers of people with dementia."

She said previous research had focused on alcoholics who had an increased risk of dementia because they did not eat enough for long time-periods.

She said: "In contrast, binge drinkers drink heavily at certain times but may still eat well and therefore do not have the same type of risk.

"As drinking habits change, it is vital we understand more about the relationship between alcohol and this devastating condition."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7703687.stm

[westerby]

Ha! And if you post the same story tomorrow night, Izzie, we'll know for sure that you're a binge drinker aswell.

But moving back on topic, readers, surely you have to neck quite a lot of alcohol over a considerable period before you exhibit signs of dementia? And surely you can't maintain that same binge drinking lifestyle over 20 years - ultimately your body is going to tell you to slow down, demonstrated by the fact that you can't get over a hangover as well as you used to.

[aznyron]

Ha! And if you post the same story tomorrow night, Izzie, we'll know for sure that you're a binge drinker aswell.

But moving back on topic, readers, surely you have to neck quite a lot of alcohol over a considerable period before you exhibit signs of dementia? And surely you can't maintain that same binge drinking lifestyle over 20 years - ultimately your body is going to tell you to slow down, demonstrated by the fact that you can't get over a hangover as well as you used to.

Sadly if you live long enough I happen to know a man around 65 who is a very educated man but over the years he drank himself into oblivion now I do want to express some thing he is 5 years younger than I am & he looks 10 years older than me. it OK to drink in fact it healthy for you if you drink 2 small glasses of wine every day approx. 8 ounces daily but to drink your self in to a black out or even were you can not walk straight is not a healthy sign and you do need some help before it get worse or you kill your self from alcohol poisoning and in time you will get dementia or Alzheimer's it your life & your choice

[izzix]

buddy of mine didnt get to the dementia stage , throat cancer got him first 57 years old .

[westerby]

buddy of mine didnt get to the dementia stage , throat cancer got him first 57 years old .

Bad news, Izzie. Fags and booze, the potential double whammy, thankfully I've wrapped up both.

But that doesn't mean I condemn the rest of you for indulging.

[aznyron]

throat cancer is linked to smoking cigarettes I have never heard of a homosexual getting throat cancer because he like to smoke men but then again I never did any research on it because women smoke men and that has not been linked to cancer in fact the newest claim is it might prevent breast cancer
if they swallow semen now getting back to beer they can always wash it down with a Heineken
ONE beer a day is good for you 10 beers a day means you have a problem

[UdonExpat]

So, binge drinking early on will eventually save you money in your old age, because you won't need the alcohol to be out of it.

Early binge drinking sounds like a good investment for a future of oblivion, the state most binge drinkers are looking for.

This information needs to get out to all the binge drinkers. If they work at it, they may be able to become totally demented before 50 and have a long life being taken care of by the social welfare system.

[Irish Alan]

throat cancer is linked to smoking cigarettes I have never heard of a homosexual getting throat cancer because he like to smoke men but then again I never did any research on it because women smoke men and that has not been linked to cancer in fact the newest claim is it might prevent breast cancer
if they swallow semen now getting back to beer they can always wash it down with a Heineken
ONE beer a day is good for you 10 beers a day means you have a problem

Yeah I use that line a lot... It contains vitamin D and is good for hair growth and complexion. One day it might just work It's right up there with "Your cheque is in the post..."



Okay, I found out my errrrrrrrrrrrrr oh yeah short term memory is terrible and I've only been drinking about 3 years... I don't mean my current binge has been 3 years, I mean on regular occasions...