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Excess drinking shrinks the brain
The more alcohol you drink, the more your brain shrinks, a new study has found.
"The take-home message is that, if you drink a lot, you're going to hurt your brain," said Rajesh Miranda, an associate professor of neuroscience and experimental therapeutics at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. "This is something we knew, but this is a huge study that quantifies that."
"It's not surprising that alcohol would cause shrinkage of the brain. That kind of thing has been observed in animal models and smaller studies," Miranda added. "The surprising thing is that they [the study authors] showed that even low levels of drinking are not protective, as people had seen in other cases."
The findings are published in the October issue of theArchives of Neurology.
Brain volume decreases naturally as people age, at a rate of about 1.9 percent per decade. At the same time, the brain acquires white matter lesions as it gets older. Both of these changes also accompany dementia and cognitive decline, according to background information in the study.
Moderate levels of alcohol consumption have been linked with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, leading researchers to hypothesize that restrained tippling might also slow declines in brain volume. Previous studies have also found that drinking alcohol in moderation is associated with improved cognitive function and a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
For the new study, led by Carol Ann Paul, of Wellesley College in Massachusetts, researchers conducted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and health exams on 1,839 adults (average age 60) participating in the Framingham Offspring Study between 1999 and 2001. None of the participants had evidence of clinical dementia or had suffered a stroke.
The men and women were asked how much alcohol they drank each week, then were classified as abstainers, former drinkers, or low (one to seven drinks per week), moderate (eight to 14 drinks per week) or high consumers of alcohol (more than 14 drinks a week).
Most participants (almost 38 percent of men and more than 44 percent of women) fell into the "low-consumption" category. Men were more likely than women to report being moderate or heavy drinkers.
Alcohol had no protective affect on the normal, age-related shrinkage in brain volume, the researchers found.
To the contrary, the more a person drank, the more their brain volume diminished. This relationship was somewhat more pronounced in women, although women tended to be lighter drinkers.
The gender difference could be explained by biological factors, namely that alcohol is absorbed faster in women and they tend to feel the effects of alcohol more than men, the researchers said. The more alcohol you drink, the more your brain shrinks, a new study has found. ... more -
The end of Ladies' Night?
Free drinks for women and other promotions popular with clubs and bars might be banned under new proposals issued by the Home Office and the Department of Health. The measures are part of the government's "Safe, Sensible, Social" alcohol policy meant to cut public drunkenness. Other initiatives in the plan include compulsory display of health warnings, wine glasses with marked measures, curbs on wine and spirits tastings and a ban on drinking games.
Apparently this is in response to what some see is a failure of the 24-hour drinking scheme to bring a change in behaviour and attitudes toward drinking. Do you think this kind of crack down is going to have any more effect than the 24-hour plan? Free drinks for women and other promotions popular with clubs and bars might be banned under new proposals issued by the Home Office a... more -
Why drinkers do it all again – they only recall the good bits
Scientists have found evidence to suggest that binge drinkers' memories of their nights out are biased towards the good parts, thereby making it easier to go through it all again. Scientists have found evidence to suggest that binge drinkers' memories of their nights out are biased towards the good parts, th... more
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Radio DJs criticised for drink comments
Several radio DJs in the UK have been criticised by a study from the University of the West of England, for allegedly glamourising heavy drinking: the reasearches listened to over 1,200 hours of shows. Several radio DJs in the UK have been criticised by a study from the University of the West of England, for allegedly glamourising hea... more
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Fight for your right to get soused in public
The Manifesto Club, a London based civil liberties organization, plans to protest restrictions on public drinking in England and Wales. The group claims that government restrictions on public imbibing are depriving people of the right to socialise. A large picnic will be held on Bank Holiday Monday in London's Hyde Park in order to allow the public to express their dissatisfaction with the laws. The Manifesto Club, a London based civil liberties organization, plans to protest restrictions on public drinking in England and Wales... more
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Boozy Brits - it’s the last straw
About 4am last Thursday, a mob of 200 alcohol-sodden youths gathered outside the Sabotage nightclub on the Greek island of Zakynthos ready for action. Two men were squaring up for a fight. One, a Scouser, had apparently shouted a racist remark at the other, a 6ft 4in black bodybuilder, and it seemed as if things were about to kick off.
Suddenly the black man jumped onto a quad-bike and drove into the crowd, apparently trying to run over his adversary. Bodies went sprawling. Within minutes sirens were blaring and four Greek police officers were wrestling the 19-year-old rider to the ground before carting him off in handcuffs. An ambulance took a teenage girl to hospital.
Elsewhere that night in the popular holiday resort of Laganas, a drunken youth stripped to his underwear and jumped on a car bonnet, drawing roars of approval from his friends, while a young woman hitched up her skirt in the middle of the road to have a henna tattoo painted on her bottom.
Around them, couples barely coherent after downing cheap cocktails – sometimes laced with industrial alcohol – groped each other in public, while others retired to the beach to have sex. “This place is full of girls that are well fit,” said Christopher Duff, 21, an electrician from north Wales. “Four slutty girls have moved into the hotel with us and I intend to sleep with all of them by the end of the holiday. We’ve heard about the reputation of the place and that’s why we’ve come here.”
It was just another night on Zakynthos, also known as Zante, a once-tranquil haven for endangered turtles that is now flooded by thousands of Brits behaving badly. Similar scenes of debauchery are played out across the Ionian Sea at the resort of Malia on Crete, where street brawls have involved hundreds of holidaymakers, and scores of women are reported to request the morning-after pill each day.
Simon Gass, the British ambassador to Athens, recently flew to Zakynthos to see the carnage for himself and to reassure local officials. And Dionisis Komiotis, the mayor of Laganas, has decided enough is enough. “We don’t want the young people to walk out naked, to cause problems and damage,” he said. “We don’t want them to annoy the rest of the guests and tourists and, of course, put their own lives in danger.”
The authorities are launching the biggest crackdown the island has seen, with alcohol targeted as public enemy number one. “Every day I am sending officers into Laganas to protect young people,” the local police chief told The Sunday Times last week. At least that’s the rhetoric. But given the money at stake and the notoriety of Brits abroad, is anything likely to change? EVER since the Spanish resorts of the Costa del Sol opened their doors, British tourists have been traveling abroad in search of sun, sand and sex. What has taken the problems to new depths, say critics, is the proliferation of cheap flights. This summer a week in Laganas, including flights and accommodation, could be booked for as little as £200. About 4am last Thursday, a mob of 200 alcohol-sodden youths gathered outside the Sabotage nightclub on the Greek island of Zakynthos r... more -
Soaring number of Brits arrested in Spain
Seems like we're taking our anti-social behaviour on holiday with us, as British arrests rise in our favourite sunny destination.
Are young holiday-makers being unfairly targeted?
Or does too much cheap booze + too much sun = trouble in paradise? Seems like we're taking our anti-social behaviour on holiday with us, as British arrests rise in our favourite sunny destination.... more -
Police set to launch random breath tests in battle to beat drink driving
They do it in america even though there is a constitutional amendment against it.... Why not do it in the UK....... I am absolutely against drunk driving, but there are better ways of doing this. They do it in america even though there is a constitutional amendment against it.... Why not do it in the UK....... I am absolutely ag... more
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New pill stops you binge drinking within days
A pill has been developed that can halve the amount of alcohol people consume and drop the amount of 'heavy-drinking sessions' by a rather sobering 70%, all after just 12 weeks of pill-popping.
The party-pooping, liver-saving pill is called naltrexone, and "is thought to work on brain chemicals, reducing the craving for alcohol and making users feel they have drunk enough." A pill has been developed that can halve the amount of alcohol people consume and drop the amount of 'heavy-drinking sessions... more -
Strongest beer ever has campaigners in a froth
The owners of one of Scotland's largest independent breweries, BrewDog, were yesterday lambasted by health campaigners and politicians for creating Britain's most potentbeer ever – with a staggering 12 per cent alcohol content.
Dr Bruce Ritson, the chairman of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, declared there was no place for such a high-strength beer on the market. He said: "It is the last thing we need. If it became popular it would have devastating consequences for health as well as social order and violence on the streets."
Jack Law, the chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, also condemned the beer. He said: "What justification can there possibly be to bring an extra strong beer on to the market? Super-strength drinks are often favoured by young people and problem drinkers – is this really who the brewery wants to target?"
But James Watt, one of BrewDog's co-founders, remained unrepentant about his company's decision to brew what they are describing as an "intergalactic fantastic oak aged stout" which has been made with specialist malts, jasmine and cranberries before being aged on French toasted oak chips.
"The beers that we make are to be savoured and enjoyed. The (£4 per 330ml bottle) price takes it away from the market that are just drinking beer to get drunk. We in fact are the cure and not the problem." The owners of one of Scotland's largest independent breweries, BrewDog, were yesterday lambasted by health campaigners and politi... more -
Figures show extent of Scotland's hospital drink cases
Glasgow has Scotland's highest rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions, new figures have shown.
Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost Scotland £2.25bn every year, with related deaths more than doubling in the past decade.
The statistics showed wide variation across Scotland in the number of people admitted to hospital as a result of alcohol-related illness.
East and south east Glasgow and south east Highland were among the worst areas nationally, parts of which had 3% of the population admitted to hospital at least once because of alcohol. Glasgow has Scotland's highest rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions, new figures have shown. ... more -
Harsh binge drinking adverts roll out
In a bid to curb the ever increasing numbers of binge drinkers on the streets of Britain, a new advertising campaign has been launched which shows the stark reality of going out and drinking 20 vodka and cokes.
One of the messages in the campaign reads, "You wouldn't start a night like this, so why end it that way?" with a girl smearing vomit into her beautiful locks.
Another of the ads shows a man getting ready for his big night out, except he rips out his ear-ring, smashes his face into a wardrobe door, urinates on his shoes and then spills a kebab all down his shirt.
Click the link and see if you think the advertising will have any effect? In a bid to curb the ever increasing numbers of binge drinkers on the streets of Britain, a new advertising campaign has been launched... more -
Scotland to raise drink-buying age
The minimum age for buying alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences is to be raised to 21 in Scotland as part of a wide-ranging attempt to clamp down on binge drinking.
The Scottish government is also proposing to introduce a minimum price for alcohol and ban buy-one-get-one free supermarket promotions to discourage drinking and cut irresponsible behaviour.
The minimum price, expected to be about 40p per unit of alcohol, would increase the cost of the strongest, most heavily discounted drinks, such as superstrength cider and lager, by up to 400%. The minimum age for buying alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences is to be raised to 21 in Scotland as part of a wide-ranging attemp... more -
Parents to get youth drink guide
U.K. parents are to be given guidelines on how much alcohol their children can safely consume, in a bid to encourage teenagers to drink more responsibly.
CURRENT U.K. GUIDELINES
It is illegal to give alcohol to a child aged below five
Under 16s can go into pubs under supervision of an adult, but cannot have any alcoholic drinks
Over 16s can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal in a restaurant
It is against the law for under 18s to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence, supermarket or other outlet or for anyone to buy alcohol for someone under 18 to consume in a pub or public place U.K. parents are to be given guidelines on how much alcohol their children can safely consume, in a bid to encourage teenagers to drin... more -
Study shows kids think 'binge drinking' is normal
A recent study that questioned nearly 1,500 nine to eleven year-old children about their perceptions of adult alcohol consumption turned out some rather worrying figures.
The survey results from the Life Education charity showed that 60% of the kids surveyed believed that people on TV drank too much, with roughly the same amount believing people drink to forget their problems.
About 30% of the kiddies believed that five or more glasses of wine in one night was 'normal' for adults, with more than 25% thinking that four pints of beer an evening was ok.
One result seems to be the only giveaway that the survey was questioning under-elevens, half of them think adults only drink to 'look cool.' A recent study that questioned nearly 1,500 nine to eleven year-old children about their perceptions of adult alcohol consumption turn... more -
Hey ladies! Better cut back on the drinking… or you might get ugly!
London's Drug and Alcohol Service for London charity's new campaign against binge drinking is pitting lovely against ugly. It's aimed at women, and warns that drinking heavily will make you ugly like a man... and even have manhands (eew!).
You can see the effects on a picture of yourself on their Bebo page:
http://www.bebo.com/dasl London's Drug and Alcohol Service for London charity's new campaign against binge drinking is pitting lovely against ugly. I... more -
UK drinkers confused about exactly what they can drink
Three-quarters of drinkers do not know a typical glass of wine contains three units of alcohol, a survey for the Department of Health suggests. The YouGov survey of 1,429 drinkers in England found more than a third did not know their recommended daily limit - 2-3 units for women and 3-4 for men. Three-quarters of drinkers do not know a typical glass of wine contains three units of alcohol, a survey for the Department of Health ... more
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Britains first 'pub' without booze?!
Just like the rest of our British pubs, this pub here has snacks, snooker tables, quiz nights... but the only difference is it doesn't sell any alcohol drinks.
The local community has supported Halal Inn (in Oldham) which is the first non-alcoholic 'pub' in Britain.
The 'pub' does Asian snacks, darts, and even plays Islamic music and sells soft drinks, tea and coffee! All people are welcome into the pub!
The idea's catching on though... according to Thaiindian.com Malaysia is to get one soon as well! Just like the rest of our British pubs, this pub here has snacks, snooker tables, quiz nights... but the only difference is it doesn&#... more -
Hungover at work?
Then you could be a fine example of Norwich Union's research findings. According to the insurance company, one in three workers admitted to working with a hangover, with over one in ten admitting they've been drunk at their desk.
The results of their research are pretty astonishing - 24% of construction workers have been drunk whilst at work, closely followed by 23% of business services and 15% of IT workers. It's the media and creative lot who are 'leading the field' in being drunk at work - a whopping 41% of us having been drunk when we've gone to work, that's four times the average!
More than a third (36%) found it hard to concentrate, 35% were less productive, 42% felt tired to the point of being sleepy and 25% did the minimum amount of work and went home as soon as possible. Then you could be a fine example of Norwich Union's research findings. According to the insurance company, one in three workers a... more -
Has the government got the bottle?
This year's budget increased the price of alcohol, supposedly in response to binge drinking. But is the government overlooking the big problem: knock-down booze prices in the supermarket? This year's budget increased the price of alcohol, supposedly in response to binge drinking. But is the government overlooking th... more
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