Even Moderate Drinking May Dull Aging Brain
By Amy Norton
People who drink at even moderate levels may see some of their mental skills slip faster as they age, a new study suggests.
The researchers found that those who regularly drank alcohol showed greater brain shrinkage than non-drinkers by old age. They also lost more of their language "fluency" -- a measure of memory and thinking skills.
And, the effects were seen even among people who drank "moderately" -- roughly four to seven drinks a week, the researchers found.
The findings do not prove that alcohol was to blame.
But experts said they add to evidence that moderate drinking is not as healthful as many like to believe.