Warning as common habit 'may accelerate Alzheimer's'

A new study has linked an activity that is popular among adults in the UK with the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and eventually causes dementia.

Common symptoms include memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties, language problems, changes to how a persons sees and hears things, and changes in mood. The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are very complex, research from Scripps Research links Alzheimer’s disease and alcohol use disorder, showing similar gene expression changes in the brain that impact inflammation and cell function.

The study, published in in September, "supports the idea that alcohol use may promote Alzheimer’s disease progression". The study builds upon previously published research in the Sanna lab that showed that .

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According to the Alzheimer's Society, one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime - with most of these caused by Alzheimer's. It is very important for anyone who has worsening problems with their memory or thinking to be assessed by a health professional, which is most often their GP.

If a GP thinks their symptoms may be caused by dementia, they will refer the person to a local memory service for more detailed assessment. Alzheimer’s will usually be diagnosed by a specialist health professional, and getting an early diagnosis has many benefits.