People who are 50-60 years old have a problem with alcohol, later in life, twice as likely to have problems with memory, informs The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
American scientists conducted a survey among 6500 middle-aged people of both sexes. They were asked three questions: Have you been annoyed by other people criticizing you for drinking? Have you ever felt bad or guilty about alcohol? have a hangover ?.
People who answered yes to any of the questions were classified as having problems with alcohol.
From 1992 to 2010, the memory efficiency of the survey participants was tested. Severe memory disorders were also twice as likely to occur in those who previously had alcohol problems after 18 years.
As Dr. Iain Lang of the University of Exeter Medical School explained in an interview with the BBC, alcohol is generally harmful to the brain, but its effect depends not only on the amount consumed, but also on the effect on the body. If other people notice that we have a problem with it, it’s worth listening to them. (PAP)