Lifelong light drinking and aging jointly linked to lower brain blood flow and thinner cortex

A study published in Alcohol finds that even low-level alcohol use over a lifetime, especially as people age, is associated with reduced cerebral blood flow and thinner cortex in multiple brain regions. An MRI analysis of 45 healthy adults (with 27 undergoing perfusion scans) showed that greater lifetime drinking and older age together correlated with lower blood flow across the cortex and thinner cortical tissue, notably in the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes. The researchers suggest oxidative stress could contribute to these changes, but caution that small sample size, limited female representation, and unmeasured lifestyle factors limit conclusions and call for replication and evaluation of real-world functional effects like balance and dexterity before revising low-risk drinking guidelines.