Studies have identified high alcohol consumption to be a significant risk of poor cognitive performance, mental function, memory and brain damage. This study found even moderate drinking of 14-21 units [5 large glasses of wine or 4 pints of beer] per week in men or women over a 30 year period could cause brain damage and decline in cognitive performance!
Anya Topiwala, Charlotte L Allan, Vyara Valkanova, Enikő Zsoldos, Nicola Filippini, Claire Sexton, Abda Mahmood, Peggy Fooks, Archana Singh-Manoux, Clare E Mackay, Mika Kivimäki, Klaus P Ebmeier. Moderate alcohol consumption as risk factor for adverse brain outcomes and cognitive decline: longitudinal cohort study. BMJ 2017;357:j2353 http://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j2353 Image source: http://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j2353