New American research warns that ľPeople who drink three or more beers or glasses of wine a day significantly increase the risk of the deadliest form of stroke. Researchers have found that heavy drinkers suffer a major stroke at a younger age and up to three times more likely to show signs of brain aging, informs
According to a study published in the professional journal Neurology, such people are at risk intracerebral hemorrhage (a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain) an average of 11 years earlier than those who drink alcohol more moderately or not at all. In addition, they also have a significantly more severe course of the disease. Also much more often they show signs of damage to small cerebral vessels, the so-called cerebral disease of small vessels, which represents long-term brain damage.
“Intracerebral hemorrhage is the deadliest type of stroke, and its main cause is damage to small blood vessels. Our findings suggest that excessive drinking not only increases the severity of bleeding, but may also accelerate long-term damage to brain vessels.” stated the author of the study, Dr. Edip Gurol of Harvard University.
1,600 hospitalized patients with an average age of 75 years participated in the research. Heavy alcohol consumption was defined as regular consumption of three or more drinks per day. 104 patients (7%) met this criterion.
The key findings were that heavy drinkers suffered a stroke at an average age of 64compared to 75 years for the others. Their brain bleeds were 70% larger on average, and they were twice as likely to have bleeds in deep areas of the brain. Almost twice as often, the bleeding spread to the cerebral ventricles (intraventricular hemorrhage) and more than three times more often they showed severe damage to the white matter of the brain. They also had lower platelet counts and slightly higher blood pressure at hospital admission.
According to Dr. Gurola these factors worsen both the course of the stroke and subsequent recovery. He points out that limiting alcohol can reduce the risk of bleeding in the brain and slow down damage to brain vessels, which can reduce the risk of another stroke, cognitive decline and long-term disability.
