Think you’re too young for a stroke? Study says heavy alcohol use may trigger one sooner
Heavy alcohol consumption may lead to more severe and earlier brain bleeds by damaging small blood vessels in the brain, according to a study from investigators at Mass General Brigham published in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Researchers reviewed data from 1,600 patients treated for non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage at Massachusetts General Hospital between 2003 and 2019. About 7% of the patients reported drinking three or more alcoholic drinks per day.
People who drank heavily experienced brain bleeds at a younger age — an average of 64, compared with 75 for those who did not drink — and had hemorrhages that were about 70% larger, the study found. They were also twice as likely to have bleeding deep in the brain or into the brain’s fluid-filled spaces.
“Brain bleeds are among the most lethal and disabling neurological conditions,” senior author Dr. Edip Gurol, a clinician investigator in the Mass General Brigham Department of Neurology and associate professor at Harvard Medical School told The Harvard Gazette. “Heavy drinking appears to accelerate the type of small vessel damage that increases the risk.”
The study reported that heavy drinkers had higher blood pressure and lower platelet counts upon hospital arrival.
Researchers said these changes may weaken blood vessels and reduce the blood’s ability to clot, increasing the likelihood and severity of bleeding.
Even more moderate consumption — around two drinks per day — was linked to earlier onset of brain hemorrhage, the researchers said.
Gurol said reducing alcohol intake may help lower the risk.
“Minimizing or stopping alcohol use is an important step to reduce brain bleed risk,” he said, adding that limiting alcohol to no more than three drinks per week may support overall brain and cardiovascular health.
The authors noted limitations, including reliance on self-reported alcohol use, a relatively small number of heavy drinkers in the sample, and the study’s focus on a predominantly white population at a single medical center.
They said more research is needed in larger and more diverse groups to better understand how alcohol affects brain aging and stroke risk.
IBNS
Senior Staff Reporter at Northeast Herald, covering news from Tripura and Northeast India.
Related Articles
Study shock: Ultra-processed foods may trigger anxiety and aggression in kids
A team led by researchers at the University of Toronto has found an association between ultra-processed foods in early childhood and behavioural and emotional development.
Dementia draws increased attention in Australia in early 2026
Dementia as a major public health issue appears to be receiving growing attention in Australia during the early months of 2026.
‘Toxic Rain’ alert after oil depot strikes as Middle East war intensifies
Toxic “black rain” linked to strikes on oil depots, mass displacement and continuing disruption to aid supply chains are upending lives across the Middle East and beyond after 10 days of war in the region, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
Yale study reveals hidden cause of childhood obesity—And it’s not just junk food
In recent years, rates of childhood obesity have been rising, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimating in 2024 that approximately one in five children and adolescents met the clinical definition of obese.
Latest News
‘US begging India’: Iran mocks Trump administration over Russian oil stance
Two India-bound LPG tankers clears Strait of Hormuz after four rounds of phone calls, PM Modi’s outreach
Second attack in 24 hours: Dubai building hit by debris after interception
Why were 11 Indians arrested in US? All details about robbery visa fraud case
