Researchers followed over 30,000 people in Spain for nearly 23 years to see if drinking alcohol affected their chances of getting dementia. Previous studies suggested that moderate drinking might protect the brain, but this new research found no connection between how much alcohol people drank and whether they developed dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The study was careful to account for people who quit drinking because they were already sick, which may have skewed earlier findings. These results suggest that the idea of alcohol being good for brain health may not be accurate.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether drinking alcohol in different amounts over a lifetime affects the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
  • Who participated: 30,211 Spanish adults aged 29-69 years old when the study started in the early 1990s, followed for an average of 23 years
  • Key finding: Alcohol consumption showed no meaningful connection to dementia risk. People who drank currently had similar dementia rates to those who never drank (96% of the risk), and lifetime drinking patterns also showed no protective effect.
  • What it means for you: If you’ve heard that moderate drinking is good for your brain, this research suggests that may not be true. However, this doesn’t mean occasional drinking is harmful—it just means it probably doesn’t protect against dementia. Always consult your doctor about alcohol use and brain health.

The Research Details

This was a long-term follow-up study that tracked real people over time to see what happened to them. Researchers started with over 30,000 Spanish adults in the early 1990s and checked in on them for nearly 23 years. They asked detailed questions about how much alcohol people drank at the start of the study and also asked them to remember how much they drank when they were younger (at ages 20, 30, and 40). The researchers then looked at medical records and death certificates to find out who developed dementia during the study period. They found 1,114 cases of dementia. To analyze the results, they used special statistical methods that account for the fact that some people die from other causes before they could develop dementia.

Previous studies suggested a ‘J-shaped’ relationship with alcohol—meaning a little bit might be good, but too much is bad. However, those studies had a major flaw: they didn’t properly account for ‘sick-quitters’—people who stopped drinking because they were already developing health problems. This study fixed that problem by looking at lifetime drinking patterns and using better statistical methods. This approach gives us a clearer picture of whether alcohol really affects dementia risk.

This study is considered high quality because it followed a very large number of people for a long time (over 22 years), used validated methods to measure alcohol intake, and confirmed dementia cases through medical records rather than just asking people. The researchers also checked their results in different groups of people (men vs. women, smokers vs. non-smokers) and the findings stayed the same. They even re-analyzed the data after removing people who might have reported their food intake incorrectly, and the results didn’t change.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that there was no significant relationship between how much alcohol people drank and their risk of developing dementia. People who were currently drinking had almost the same dementia risk as people who never drank (96% of the risk, with a range of 82-113%). When researchers looked at lifetime drinking patterns—how much people drank over their entire lives—they found the same result: no meaningful difference in dementia risk. This held true whether people drank wine, beer, or spirits. The findings were consistent across different groups: men and women showed the same pattern, people with different body weights showed the same pattern, and smokers and non-smokers showed the same pattern.

The researchers also looked specifically at Alzheimer’s disease (the most common type of dementia) and other types of dementia separately. Alcohol consumption showed no connection to either type. They also performed additional analyses to make sure their results were reliable. When they excluded people who might have reported their food intake inaccurately or who had lower-quality dementia diagnoses, the results remained unchanged. This consistency across different analyses strengthens confidence in the findings.

Many earlier studies suggested that moderate alcohol consumption—especially wine—might protect against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This new research challenges that idea. The difference appears to be that previous studies didn’t properly account for ‘sick-quitters’ (people who stopped drinking because they were already ill) and didn’t use the best statistical methods to handle the fact that some people die before developing dementia. When researchers fix these problems, as this study did, the apparent protective effect of alcohol disappears.

While this study is large and well-designed, it has some limitations. All participants were from Spain, so results might not apply to other populations with different drinking patterns or genetic backgrounds. The study relied on people remembering how much they drank in the past, which can be inaccurate. Additionally, the study measured alcohol intake only at the beginning and didn’t track changes in drinking habits over the 23-year follow-up period. Finally, the study couldn’t prove that alcohol causes or prevents dementia—it only shows associations.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, you should not rely on alcohol consumption as a way to protect your brain from dementia. If you choose to drink, do so in moderation and for reasons other than brain health. The current medical guidelines suggest limiting alcohol to moderate amounts (up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men). Always talk to your doctor about your individual alcohol use and dementia risk, especially if you have a family history of dementia.

This research is relevant to anyone concerned about dementia prevention, especially middle-aged and older adults. It’s particularly important for people who have heard claims that moderate drinking protects the brain. However, if you have other health reasons to avoid or limit alcohol (such as liver disease, certain cancers, or family history of alcohol problems), those reasons remain valid regardless of this study.

Dementia typically develops slowly over many years, so any effects of alcohol on brain health would take decades to appear. This study followed people for nearly 23 years and found no effects, which suggests that if alcohol does affect dementia risk, the effect is either very small or doesn’t exist. You shouldn’t expect to see changes in your dementia risk from changes in alcohol consumption in the short term.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your weekly alcohol consumption in standard drinks (one 5-oz glass of wine, 12-oz beer, or 1.5-oz shot of spirits) and note any cognitive changes you observe, such as memory lapses or difficulty concentrating. Record this weekly for 3-6 months to establish your baseline.
  • If you’re drinking alcohol hoping to protect your brain, consider replacing that habit with evidence-based brain-protective activities instead: regular aerobic exercise (150 minutes per week), Mediterranean-style eating, cognitive activities like puzzles or learning, and social engagement. Log these activities in your app instead.
  • Rather than tracking alcohol for brain health, focus on monitoring overall lifestyle factors that do protect brain health: sleep quality (7-9 hours nightly), physical activity, diet quality, stress levels, and cognitive engagement. Create a monthly summary to see which lifestyle factors correlate with your best cognitive performance.

This research suggests that moderate alcohol consumption does not protect against dementia, contrary to some popular claims. However, this study does not prove that alcohol causes dementia. Individual responses to alcohol vary based on genetics, overall health, medications, and other factors. If you have concerns about your dementia risk or alcohol consumption, consult with your healthcare provider. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. People with certain health conditions, those taking specific medications, or those with a personal or family history of alcohol use disorder should speak with their doctor before consuming alcohol.