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Alcohol could contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease

According to a new study by researchers at Chicago’s University of Illinois, alcohol could impair the body’s ability to clear plaque from the brain, which could lead to declining cognitive function and Alzheimer’s Disease. The research team evaluated the impact of alcohol on microglial cells, which are the first line of defence for the spinal cord and brain against inflammation and disease.

Microglial cells use a process called phagocytosis to remove amyloid beta protein. Researchers exposed rat microglial cells to alcohol for 24 hours, the equivalent to a human going on a drinking binge. They found that the alcohol exposure reduced the ability of microglial cells to digest beta proteins via phagocytosis by 15%. Previous studies have shown that a reduced ability to remove beta proteins is associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.

While some previous studies have indicated that moderate alcohol consumption, especially wine, can have a protective effect against developing Alzheimer’s Disease, other studies have found that alcohol played a role in damaging the brain and leading to disorders. A study conducted by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation found that some heavy drinkers developed Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a type of dementia that results in severe short-term memory loss.

The Alzheimer’s Society of Great Britain has warned that heavy alcohol consumption over a long time may increase the risk of developing dementia, but that there was no conclusive evidence that consuming alcohol in moderation either increases or decreases the risk of developing dementia.

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