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Anthea Rowan

As Dry January draws to a close, experts are weighing whether alcohol is ever good or only bad for you.
The argument about whether there’s an upside to drinking alcohol has raged for years.
In the past, studies reported a J-curve effect which suggested moderate drinkers enjoyed some health benefits and non-drinkers none at all.
In one study, those who had the equivalent of about a half a drink a day had the lowest risk of death, but men who had up to four drinks a day or women who had two had a lower risk than those who drank none. Those who drank more than that had an increased risk.

Then a 2024 study by a team at the Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology in China found a linear relationship between drinking alcohol and brain health – as alcohol consumption rises, so does the risk. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption in the case of dementia, the researchers concluded.
Also in 2024, scientists from Harvard, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, and the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran analysed 17 independent studies of alcohol use and dementia.
They found a “significant” J-shaped association between alcohol intake and the risk of cognitive decline or dementia: lower consumption was protective, higher was associated with increased risk.
Lower consumption is defined as one drink a day – such as a five-ounce (148ml) glass of wine or a half pint of beer.

Is drinking alcohol ever a good thing?
Yes, it can be – because getting out and socialising is good for us, according to Craig Ritchie, professor of medicine at University of St Andrews in Scotland and CEO of research institute Scottish Brain Sciences. When his friends ask, “Is drinking so bad if it gets me out into the pub with my mates?” he tells them to go.
But we do not have to drink alcohol when we socialise.
Dr Rania Mekary, a professor at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the co-senior author of the analysis above, reminds us that non-drinkers also network with friends over coffee, tea, or a meal without drinking alcohol.
She herself falls into this category. She tried alcohol and does not like it, she says.
Meysam Zarezadeh, a PhD candidate in Iran who is co-senior author of that analysis, says the protective effects against cognitive impairment and dementia of drinking low to moderate amounts of alcohol could be because of the impact of alcohol on brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNFs).
These play an important role in the survival and growth of neurons in the brain and support a healthy messaging system between brain cells. Low to moderate drinking was shown to be associated with increased levels of BDNF, which is important for brain plasticity.

Light to moderate exposure to alcohol seemed to suppress proteins that are toxic to the brain and also helped reduce inflammation. Chronic brain inflammation has been implicated in dementia.
There are many mechanisms by which excessive alcohol can have harmful effects on the brain, says Zarezadeh.
For example, alcohol use can cause thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency by disrupting its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and use by other cells. It also hinders the ability of cells to use thiamine.
There is a particular type of dementia, Korsakoff syndrome, that only comes about from the overconsumption of alcohol. It is marked by significant loss of recent memory.
Also, he says, alcohol is metabolised to acetaldehyde. It contributes to the toxic effects of chronic alcohol consumption on the brain, leading to degeneration. Excessive alcohol consumption also acts as an inflammatory agent.

Alcohol, even if consumed in small amounts, may increase the risk of pharyngeal (throat), laryngeal (voice box) and oesophagal cancers, he warns.
Mekary says people who do not drink alcohol at all need not start drinking in moderation to alleviate the risk of dementia.
However, people who do drink alcohol should do so in moderation, given the higher risk of developing cognitive dysfunction and dementia associated with drinking too much.
Dr Richard Restak, clinical professor of neurology at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington and author of How to Prevent Dementia, recommends quitting drinking at age 65 or 70.

More harmful than its toxic effect on the nervous system is the risk of falls, he says. Falls are responsible for 70 per cent of accidental deaths in those 70 or older.
So what do the experts really think – and drink?
Restak, aged 83, gave up alcohol about a decade ago. In addition to the risk of falls, he says, drinking interferes with cognition and slows a possibly already slowed up brain.
Dr John Tregoning is a medical school professor at Imperial College London and author of the coming book Live Forever? A Curious Scientist’s Guide to Wellness, Ageing and Death.

In his new book, he writes: “Drinking two drinks a day (14 a week) leads to a one in 100 chance of alcohol-related death, three drinks a day increases that to two in 100, four a day to five in 100, and by the time you reach six a day, you increase your chance of alcohol- related death to 10 per cent. If you want to live longer, do not drink.”
He admits he drinks more than he should, but is using an app from the UK’s National Health Service, Drink Free Days, that is nudging him in the right direction towards limiting his midweek drinking.
Perhaps we all need to take a leaf out of his book and aim for, if not a dry year, a drier one.
Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


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As Dry January nears end, medical arguments for and against giving up alcohol for good

While some studies have shown moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks could have a protective effect on the brain, it may also increase the risk of cancers and, as we age, deadly falls and dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Drinking too much alcohol is never good for us, and increases risks to brain health and physical well-being. Some say drinking any alcohol at all is bad for one’s health. Photo: Shutterstock

Researcher Dr Rania Mekary reminds us that people can also network with friends over coffee, tea or a meal – without drinking alcohol. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Richard Restak quit drinking a decade ago, citing the risk of deadly falls after drinking. Photo: richardrestak.com

Researcher Meysam Zarezadeh says drinking alcohol may increase the risk of pharyngeal (throat), laryngeal (voice box) and oesophagal cancers, even if consumed in small amounts. Photo: researchgate.net

Falls, especially in those over the age of 70, are a major cause of death, says Restak. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr John Tregoning, a medical school professor at Imperial College London, says if you want to live longer, do not drink. Photo: Light Republic Photography

Testing for dementia by asking patients to draw a clock, walk and talk, stand on one leg

The clock-drawing test requires a person to be able to interpret the placement of the hands in relation to the numbers. It is an ability often lost in people with early dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

There are many different ways to score the clock-drawing test. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Baibing Chen says the clock-drawing test is especially useful in judging brain health. Photo: Dr Baibing Chen

If a person has trouble with the balance test, standing on one leg for up to 30 seconds, it can indicate problems with motor coordination or even early signs of neurodegenerative conditions. Photo: Shutterstock

A diminished sense of smell is often one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, sometimes predating cognitive symptoms by years. It can also be a symptom of Covid-19. Photo: Shutterstock

Tests must be conducted within the context of the patient’s overall health, history, and current symptoms. Photo: Shutterstock

Different parts of the brain are responsible for different cognitive skills. Illustration: Shutterstock

Just as not all memory lapses mean someone has dementia, “failing” these tests does not necessarily mean they suffer from it. Photo: Shutterstock

Traditional Chinese medicine remedies for colds, coughs, flu, sleep, fatigue and more

Hong Kong-based traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Elizabeth Yau says that by addressing specific imbalances, TCM herbal remedies can uplift energy levels, reduce stress, improve digestion and restore overall vitality. Photo: Instagram/tcm.elizabeth

There are about 700 herb plants in common use in TCM. Photo: Shutterstock

Seng says that if you have come down with a cold, the best way to treat it naturally is to take personalised Chinese medicinal herbs and get enough rest. Photo: Instagram/tcmbycheehee

Ginger is commonly used in herbal remedies. Photo: Shutterstock

How alcohol affects your health, why you should consider joining in Dry January – and why a month without drink is not enough

Dry January is a campaign for people to give up drinking alcohol for a month. Yet,  according to the World Health Organization, drinking alcohol is bad for you, even in small amounts - it raises the risks for depression, strokes and other adverse health conditions. Photo: Shutterstock

Oxford University researcher Iona Millwood says alcohol can affect the liver, brain, and other organs in different ways, not all of which are fully understood. Photo: Iona Millwood

The risks from drinking alcohol are higher for women, says Hong Kong general practitioner Dr Wong Sze-man. Photo: Marina Medical Clinic

One of the reasons people drink alcohol is to lower their inhibitions. Photo: Shutterstock

Even moderate alcohol consumption can increase the build-up of visceral fat around the waist. This has been linked to a number of health issues, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Imagine having dementia. ‘Virtual’ tour simulates clumsy hands, painful feet, filmy vision

An employee of Second Wind Dreams in the US struggles with a simple folding task while wearing gloves, which interfere with dexterity - as arthritis might - on a virtual dementia tour that simulates the challenges of the condition. Photo: Second Wind Dreams

A participant in a virtual dementia tour experiences the sensations and challenges someone with dementia might have. Photo: Second Wind Dreams

PK Beville, a certified end-of-life care provider and founder of Second Wind Dreams, designed the virtual dementia tours. Photo: Second Wind Dreams

A VDT participant in the UK attempts to sort socks while wearing accessories and equipment designed to help simulate the challenges of having dementia. Photo: danieljonesphotography.co.uk

Melanie Bishop joined a virtual dementia tour to experience what it might have felt like to have the condition that had afflicted her mother. Photo: Melanie Bishop

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Studies show moderate alcohol consumption might be good for us, but it can also cause cancer, dementia – and deadly falls


Studies show moderate alcohol consumption might be good for us, but it can also cause cancer, dementia – and deadly falls.


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Disease

Cancer