Doctor reveals exact age you should consider permanently stopping drinking alcohol
A doctor has revealed at what age you should quit drinking, that's if the thought of cutting back has ever entered your mind.
While it's hardly a secret that alcohol isn't really good for you, the idea of consuming it in moderation is still very much a thing, according to the NHS.
But if you do plan on going sober, you might as well start sooner for the biggest health benefits, an expert has claimed.
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By removing alcohol from your diet, research specifically shows that it can help prevent the development of dementia.
Drinking directly correlates to a reduced volume of your brain's white matter, which can stop your brain from functioning normally.
Dr Richard Restak, author of How to Prevent Dementia: An Expert’s Guide to Long-Term Brain Health, has described how alcohol can impact your brain function, calling it a 'direct neurotoxin'.
A neurotoxin can be defined as a substance that damages, destroys or impairs the function of the nervous system.
Because of this, Dr Restak has revealed an age where you should aim to cut it out of your life for good.
“Ask yourself, ‘why do I drink?’ If the answer is ‘because alcohol helps me to elevate my mood and lower my anxiety,’ you may be at some peril, and it’s probably best to stop altogether,” he wrote.
“I strongly suggest that if you are 65 years old or older, that you completely and permanently eliminate alcohol from your diet."
Now, there is a type of dementia that is associated with the overconsumption of alcohol.
Dementia UK explains: "Alcohol related brain damage (also known as alcohol related brain impairment) is caused by drinking alcohol excessively over a prolonged period of time.
"It can be caused by a combination of reasons including vitamin B1 deficiency (thiamine), the toxic effects of alcohol on nerve cells, head injury and blood vessel damage."
Alcohol-related brain damage can be prevented by lowering your alcohol intake to no more than 14 units per week, spread across at least three days.
Increasing physical and mental activity; having a healthy diet; avoiding smoking; managing stress levels and keeping weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check are also important factors.
Early symptoms of dementia
According to NHS England, some of the most common early symptoms of dementia include:
- Emotional changes
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- Being confused about time and places
Other symptoms can include behavioural changes, often related to extreme mood swings or bouts of anxiety and depression.
Additional words by Anish Vij.
Topics: Health, Food And Drink
Lucy Devine