No safe level of alcohol consumption for brain health: observational cohort study of 25,378 UK Biobank participants

This study examined the effects of alcohol consumption on brain structure and function in 25,378 participants from the UK Biobank. Even low levels of alcohol (7–14 units per week) were associated with reduced grey matter volume and changes in white matter microstructure, including markers of poorer neural health. Functional connectivity within several brain networks was also altered. These findings indicate that even moderate drinking can have measurable impacts on brain health, potentially influencing cognitive performance and increasing vulnerability to neurodegenerative conditions.

Based on this study, reducing alcohol consumption to below 7 units per week or abstaining entirely may help preserve brain structure and function. While these findings are robust, they come from an observational study and require further research to confirm causality.