Other than the normal aging process and bad genetics, there are other things that appear to be associated with developing one of the many forms of dementia. The problem for doctors and researchers is trying to identify these risk factors, especially since there a couple hundred different types of dementia.

I recall about 20-30 years ago, the news was filled with reports that linked drinking beverages from aluminum cans with the development of Alzheimer’s, which is probably the most common form of dementia. These studies were urging everyone to stop drinking soda and beer from the can, but only drink that which came in a bottle. Some of the beverage companies looked for alternatives and even began putting some kind of protective lining inside their cans to prevent any aluminum from leaching from the can into the beverage. Other beverage companies challenged the reports and claimed the studies were flawed and bogus had no merit. There are still some who claim the link between drinking beverages from aluminum cans and Alzheimer’s.

Some claim that eating too much red meat or fats causes plaque to build up in the brain which results in some form of dementia. Even today, you can find some studies that make this claim and there may be something to this claim.

Some attribute dementia to lack of physical activity and even lack of mental exercises. It is important to keep the brain active. This can be accomplished by doing various kinds of puzzles that require you to think. In my busy day, I manage to take a few breaks where I solve some Sudoku puzzles online or in a box and I try to do at least 1-2 jigsaw puzzles online at Jigidi.com. I think of these breaks as mental recess from my writing as many as 6 articles per day.

However, a new study has thrown the spotlight on a different culprit for the being the biggest risk factor for dementia. It wasn’t aluminum, fatty foods, red meat, lack of mental exercise of any of the things we have commonly heard of being linked to dementia.

The new culprit is . . . . . . alcohol use.

According to the report:

“Alcohol use disorders are the most important preventable risk factors for the onset of all types of dementia, especially early-onset dementia. This according to a nationwide observational study, published in The Lancet Public Health journal, of over one million adults diagnosed with dementia in France.”

“This study looked specifically at the effect of alcohol use disorders, and included people who had been diagnosed with mental and behavioural disorders or chronic diseases that were attributable to chronic harmful use of alcohol.”

“Of the 57,000 cases of early-onset dementia (before the age of 65), the majority (57%) were related to chronic heavy drinking.”

“The World Health Organization (WHO) defines chronic heavy drinking as consuming more than 60 grams pure alcohol on average per day for men (4-5 Canadian standard drinks) and 40 grams (about 3 standard drinks) per day for women.”

Dr. Jürgen Rehm is co-author of the study, and Director of the CAMH Institute for Mental Health Policy Research. He commented about the study, saying:

“The findings indicate that heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders are the most important risk factors for dementia, and especially important for those types of dementia which start before age 65, and which lead to premature deaths. Alcohol-induced brain damage and dementia are preventable, and known-effective preventive and policy measures can make a dent into premature dementia deaths.”

Casual drinking or having a glass of wine every evening before bed were not listed as being enough to be problematic, but things like binge drinking like we hear about happening so often in college, just may contribute to the development of dementia.

What was your past like and what are your drinking habits today? This may cause you to re-think those habits while you still can think.