A study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that excessive alcohol consumption and stressful situations are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related cognitive decline. The results of the study were published in the journal Neurobiology of Stress.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disease that primarily affects older adults, causing memory loss, cognitive decline, and personality changes.
Research has shown that stress and alcohol interact to enhance each other’s negative effects: alcohol abuse often leads to stressful situations, and under stress, people may try to cope with problems by drinking alcohol.
Already at a young age, alcohol and stress can negatively affect the structure and functionality of the brain, which can lead to various psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, including worsening social anxiety.
Vascular dementia can be caused by a decrease in blood supply to the brain, often after a stroke or other vascular disorder, which can result in hallucinations and movement disorders. Damage to the frontotemporal lobe of the brain can negatively affect speech and personality.
Scientists continue to study aging and neurodegenerative pathologies, recognizing the need for more research in this area.
