Drinking alcohol in moderation increases brain health? Here's what you need to know this festive season

The festive season is here, which means a lot of excursions, parties and plans with friends and family. And what is a party without good food? But do your Navratri or Durga Puja celebration also include alcohol? You may not be a heavy drinker or anywhere close to dependence, but this drink still has a health warning. Drinking alcohol in moderation increases brain health? Some people believe that when alcohol is thinking at parties or during dinner – without going overboard, it may not be as harmful as it is often thought. Of course, if you have alcohol with a festive spread, it sounds like a plan, better than those who choose to drink on an empty stomach. Even previous research has hinted that such light drinks can have certain benefits for brain health. However, a new study published in BMJ voucher-based medicine on September 23, 2025, says otherwise. Instead of offering any health benefits, the research shows that even light drinks of alcohol can increase the risk of neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia. What is ‘safe limit’ for alcohol consumption? One can argue that when something is taken moderately, the consequences are unlikely to be disastrous, as long as one stays within the ‘safe boundaries’. The same assumption has long been made about alcohol. Earlier studies suggested a protective effect of light drinking. But these claims have now been disputed, as researchers found that many individuals who later developed dementia had already reduced their drinks in the years before the diagnosis. This shift reverses the idea that alcohol can offer any real benefit in small amounts. Alcohol causing dementia according to a report by Hindustan Times, researchers have investigated the effects of alcohol consumption, analyzing health data of more than half a million people and genetic information from another 2 million. The results allegedly showed that even minimal alcohol intake could increase the risk of dementia. In addition, individuals with a genetic propensity for alcohol use disorder have a 15-16 percent higher probability to develop dementia. In these cases, genetic predisposition refers to an inherited vulnerability that makes a person more susceptible to alcohol dependence and consequently causes damage to the brain. In simple words, even drinking small amounts of alcohol can cause long -term damage in your body, especially to your brain, which may pave the way to dementia. Allegedly, adults in the middle age who are at great risk of cognitive decline; Reducing alcohol can help reduce the risks of dementia later in life. On July 8, 2025, the World Dementia Council (WDC), as reported by Alzheimer’s Association, claimed that cases of dementia in India increased, with rural regions, home to almost a fifth of the world population, who are about 6 million people living with the condition. Expert responds to claims of ‘light alcohol drinking’ during festivities Dr Deepak Padmanabhan, senior consultant, strategic lead – heart -p Collegium at Narayana Health, Bengaluru, told Live Mint: “For brain health, there is no proven ‘safe’ level of alcohol.” “Risk starts at low doses and rises with more drinking. Alcohol shrinks gray matter and disrupts wiring: Even light-ordinary intake is linked to smaller gray-material volume and white changes on MRI. Velocities cognitive decline/dementia risk.” “Large contemporary analyzes find no cognitive protection against moderate drinking; the risk of dementia rises with ingestion that the brain of thiamine is hungry: Heavy use can cause wernicke -corsakoff syndrome (confusion, eye movement, memory loss) due to vitamin B1 deficiency. risk -free level. In adolescents and young adults, this can do lasting damage as the brain is still developing. During pregnancy, zero alcohol is safest to protect the fetal brain. After a brain injury or stroke, alcohol impedes the recovery and increases the risks of falling or other stroke. The doctor also noted that binge or regular liquor can cause aprille (“holiday heart”), which increases the risk of stroke, but reduces or ceases the episodes of alcohol. Disclaimer: This article is intended only for information purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Consult medical experts for more information.