Complete abstinence from alcohol is suggested by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guideline to reduce the risk of developing dementia. The guideline suggests that alcohol consumption does not have any safe level so that even when staying within the considered acceptable limits of alcohol drinking, the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease may still increase.
In the UK, current alcohol consumption guidelines by the government suggests that women can safely consume two to three units of alcohol per day or the equivalent of one 175ml of wine. Men, on the other hand, may safely consume 3 units of alcohol.
The new guideline for alcohol consumption, which is undergoing review process, suggests that any amount of alcohol will increase vulnerability to dementia, disability as well as frailness. It calls for doctors to tackle lifestyle choices especially among middle-aged patients and encourage reduction of their alcohol consumption.
Certainly it poses a challenge to accepted and popular social behaviour among the British on the matter of alcohol consumption.
Based on research, a third of cases of the dementia and Alzheimer's disease are related to such factors as exercise, habits and weight. These are also related to smoking and alcohol.
The new alcohol consumption advice points that while alcohol drinking in the home has become normative, this must be understood as a threat to health. Those from the grey pound and up, should not see age as an excuse for a sedentary lifestyle. Health is better protected with an active lifestyle especially during middle age.
University of Nottingham and Nice's professor of epidemiology John Britton, who chairs the guideline development, says: "It is well known that smoking, too much alcohol, inactivity and being overweight is bad for our health, but many people don't realise that these things can also increase the likelihood of developing dementia and other causes of poor quality of life in older age."
"The evidence we looked at suggested that people can prevent these outcomes by making simple changes in life -- stopping smoking, cutting alcohol, being more active and losing weight."
"Even small but regular changes - such as climbing the stairs instead of using an escalator - can have significant effects," he adds.
For Jeremy Hughes, chief executive at Alzheimer's Society, "These guidelines are a hugely welcome shift in public health thinking, highlighting the need for a change in mid-life behaviour and lifestyle choices to reduce the risk of dementia."
"This advice needs to be extended to encourage those who go on to develop dementia to live well and prevent the condition deteriorating more quickly."
