NPR

Does drinking alcohol affect your dementia risk? We asked a researcher for insights

A large study found that cutting down on alcohol is a good idea. People who quit drinking also were had increased risk of dementia, but researchers cautioned about drawing conclusions from that.
A new study looks for associations between changes in alcohol consumption and the risk of dementia, in research that is based on nearly 4 million people in South Korea.

If you're worried that drinking alcohol could raise the risk of dementia as you get older, a large new study from South Korea can provide some insights. That starts with the idea that in general, cutting down on alcohol is a good idea.

"Maintaining mild to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of dementia, whereas heavier drinking increases the risk of dementia," the study's first author, Dr. Keun Hye Jeon, told NPR.

One part of the study's conclusions seems to have surprised many people: It found that while dropping from heavy to moderate alcohol consumption lowered the risk

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