Drinking any amount of alcohol likely increases the risk of dementia according to a new study

According to the largest combined genetic and observational study to date, drinking any amount of alcohol likely increases the risk of dementia. In the study published in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine the researchers used both genetic methods (Mendelian randomisation) and observational data from 2 large biological databanks, the UK Biobank and the U.S. Million Veteran Program (MVP).

The study from The University of Oxford, Yale University and the University of Cambridge involved 559,559 participants aged from 56-72. The individuals were monitored from recruitment until their first dementia diagnosis, death or the date of the final follow up, 12 years for the UK group and 4 for the U.S. group.

NOTE: According to Cancer Research UK there is no safe limit for alcohol.