“As Little as 8 Alcoholic Drinks a Week Can Contribute to Dementia, Research Says”

Question

This claim is TRUE:

The original article was published on the People Magazine website. It got its data from a study by the scientific journal Neurology. The link in the article leads to the Scientific Daily website, which holds the same information.

BUT…

The Scientific Daily website is not the primary source. If you go to that website, you can find a link to the Neurology article. The American Academy of Neurology is not associated with the government but is a reputable organization. 

Answer 1

The claim that drinking 8 alcoholic drinks a week can contribute to dementia, is true to some extent. Drinking alcohol, no matter what level can to some level contribute to dementia, not just 8 drinks. Medical news today states that "There is no level of alcohol consumption that does not increase the risk of dementia among drinkers, according to a new study." 8 drinks a week is not necessarily the most accurate of numbers because everyones body reacts to alcohol in different ways and it can not be traced back to a specific number. They also do not state what is classified as an alcoholic drink as each drink contains different alcohol levels and affect each person differently. Across the articles that I read, it did not give a consistent specific amount, but the overall consensus was that the consumption of alcohol, no matter how much, can contribute to dementia and varies depending on your level of consumption. 

Article one:https://people.com/as-little-as-8-alcoholic-drinks-a-week-can-contribute-to-dementia-research-says-11712922

Article two:https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/alcohol#:~:text=Does%20alcohol%20increase%20the%20risk%20of%20dementia?,linked%20to%20an%20increased%20risk%20of%20dementia.

Article three: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dementia-risk-rises-with-any-amount-of-alcohol-use?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Article four: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28097521/

Answer 2

So even though the claim might be a little much, it is completely true but they're article does not prove it, the research was done by one of the articles they linked which is by Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology which was the company who did the studies. The article is originally by peoples magazine which lets be honest, it has some crazy headlines sometimes which can be taken a little too serious, but in cnn's article it refers to "heavy drinkers" as those who drink over 8 drinks per week, people might not take this as seriously if the writers use numbers to compare because then people will think that as long as they stay a certain amount they'll be okay, but any kind of weekly drinking can negatively affect your brain maybe not immediately but in the long run. In the health.gov article it says that a "healthy" adult should not drink more than 10 drinks weekly and no more than 4 drinks a day. So theres a lot of different information as to how much alochol can be bad, everyones body is different and processes things differently, if you are a heavy drinker lets say everyday then yes there will definitely be big time consequences but others might not have a lot to worry about. Besides making sure they don't become heavy drinkers

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/health/heavy-drinking-alcohol-wellness/index.html

https://www.health.gov.au/topics/alcohol/about-alcohol/how-much-alcohol-is-safe-to-drink#:~:text=If%20you're%20a%20healthy,drinks%20on%20any%20one%20day.

Answer 3

This bold claim may seem alarming to some, but is certainly true. People.com writes about how alcohol can potentially contribute to dementia. The secondary article bringing this topic to the masses derives from studies by the American Academy of Neurology via Science Daily, who states that those who drink 8 or more alcoholic beverages per week have an increased chance of developing brain lesions, which are associated with memory problems such as dementia (Science Daily). Many other secondary sources derive their articles from this study, backing its credibility. New York Post writes "...heavy drinkers were 133% more likely to develop brain lesions..." when compared to those who drink less (NY Post). Many articles use similar titles and support the same claim as stated in the people.com article. Although this title or claim may be alarming to some, the Neurology study shows that these brain lesions are directly linked to those who consume high amounts of alcohol over time.

Answer 4

There is no denying the fact that alcohol abuse can lead to dementia further down the road. However, the claim that as little as eight alcoholic drinks a week can lead to dementia and other adverse effects is a little misleading. For example, there are differences in alcoholic beverages, like beer and a cocktail. A cocktail will have more alcohol, leading to more adverse effects. These are both drinks. Not to mention, your age, weight, and gender all affect how your body processes alcohol. "Generally, the lower your body weight, the less blood and water you have. So, smaller people usually have a higher ratio of alcohol in their blood if they drink the same amount as a heavier person does." (Stanford Children's Medicine). This further shows the extent to which alcohol affects the body.

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=understanding-alcohols-effects-1-2860

Answer 5

The finding was based on a 2021 Lancet Public Health study that suggested moderate alcohol use (about eight drinks a week) might raise the chances of developing dementia. The study might show that the use of over about 7-8 drinks a week was linked to a heightened risk of dementia due mainly because the alcohol neurotoxins exerted their impact after a long period. It's very significant to note here that the finding was associative and not causal. Genetic susceptibility, generalized lifestyle habits, as well as underlying medical conditions, are also very significant factors as far as causation of dementia is concerned.

Therefore, while moderate alcohol use could possibly contribute to the development of dementia, the following needs to be taken into account, a correlation of such exists within the context of numerous factors creating a multisided background. 

Alzheimer's Society

Answer 6

I found this claim to be true. An article by Alzheimer's Society, a UK based organization set on unifying against dementia, states "Drinking alcohol is linked to reduced volume of the brain's white matter, which helps to transmit signals between different brain regions. This can lead to issues with the way the brain functions." 

I was already under the impression that alcohol negatively impacted one's health, and as I went further into the article I found out more about alcohol-related brain damage, or ARBD. It turns out that ARBD is not uncommon at all, with the condition even having its own acronym. Another UK based organization, Alcohol Change UK, provides a list of symptoms  to look out for, as well as referrals to treat the condition. It is without a doubt that alcohol impairs cognitive functions in the short-term, though it seems that excessive use can lead to long-term health problems and eventually ARBD, especially if consumed out of moderation.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/alcohol

https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-related-brain-damage-arbd-signs-and-symptoms

Answer 7

This is a true claim and backed up by reputable sources. In a first simple read, the Scientific Daily would not appear to be a well-established and trustworthy source. Upon investigation, the American Academy of Neurology is a reputable source.

The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, and they offer resources for patients, caregivers, and professionals. Their articles are also peer-reviewed (highly important) and are leading publications in the field.

Because of this, the Scientific Daily article is supported and therefore the claim that "As Little As 8 Drinks A Week Can Contribute to Dementia, Research Says," is true.

Answer 8

This claim is true. The Alzheimers Society website explains that consuming an excessive amount of alcohol can cause a higher risk for developing dementia. This is because alcohol reduces white matter in the brain, which is responsible for transmitting signals from different regions of the brain. Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause a deficiency in vitamin B1, which is linked to short term memory. Although I think eight drinks is subjective to the person, the size of the drinks and the alcohol percentage in the drinks. This is because people have different levels of tolerance to alcohol. The Alzheimers website states that the NHS guidelines suggest that men and women dink no more than fourteen units a week. The units are correlated with different drink sizes and different percentages of alcohol.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/alcohol

Answer 9

I agree with the original claim that drinking more than 8 alcoholic drinks a week can be linked to higher chances of dementia later in life. Still, I would also like to highlight that 8 alcoholic drinks a week is above the recommended amount per week. And according to alzheimers.org, drinking within the recommended amount of alcoholic beverages per week has not been linked to dementia later in life. Still, it also doesn't help protect against it by any means. So if you don't already drink alcohol, there is no need to.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/alcohol

Answer 10

This claim is technically true, and is backed by recent studies as well, though the link isn’t definitive. A 2025 study in Neurology revealed that people consuming eight or more drinks weekly had a 133% higher chance of developing brain lesions and a 41% greater risk of tau tangles, both biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia. However, the study has limitations, such as not tracking how long participants drank, and experts like Leana Wen note that this shows a connection, but no definitive answer. While heavy drinking is a known risk factor, the effects of moderate drinking on dementia are still under debate, with some research suggesting lower levels may not pose a significant risk.

sources: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dementia-what-role-might-heavy-drinking-play 

https://people.com/as-little-as-8-alcoholic-drinks-a-week-can-contribute-to-dementia-research-says-8645831