Doctor explains shocking impact 'just one' alcoholic drink has on the brain

An award winning NHS doctor has spoken out about the staggering impact 'just one' drink can have on your brain. And it's not good.

Millions will settle down for the weekend with a pint or glass of wine, with many having a good few more as they enjoy a night out on the town or even just having a relaxing time at home.

But the idea of having 'just one drink' is a dangerous one, according to Dr Sermed Mezher.

The GP, who worked for the NHS for six years, has spoken out about the idea of having 'just one' drink given how much damage it can actually cause you when it comes to cognitive decline.

"Alcohol can damage your brain more than dementia," Dr Mezher explains on TikTok.

"In fact, a recent study from the University of Oxford showed there was no safe drinking limit and that was on over 25,000 adults studied by [Dr Anya] Topiwala and colleagues."

He adds: "They found quite clearly that the more you drink, the thinner the cortex part on the outer part of the brain actually got, which is really important for executive function; things like consciousness, planning, memory."

The study, published in May 2021, focused on more than 25,000 British adults with an average age of 54.

With brain scans used to measure the impact of a moderate alcohol consumption rate on the health of their brains, it found a link between drinking any amount of alcohol and the health of your brain getting worse.

And it doesn't matter what you drink, with the research stating: "We found no evidence to suggest alcoholic beverage type confers differences in risks to the brain. This supports the hypothesis that it is ethanol itself, rather than other compounds in the beverage, that is on the biological pathway to damage.

"The associations of wine-drinking with higher educational level and socioeconomic status may explain the apparent health benefits."

Dr Mezher added that while 'we know all our brains will naturally deteriorate with age', by consuming just one unit of alcohol a week takes you to a quicker rate of cognitive decline.

It's not all doom and gloom, though. And that's because the body is a marvellous thing.

"Those who like to pick their poison, though, it's not all doom and gloom," he explains.

"That's because crews and colleagues found that within just a couple of weeks of stopping drinking, your brain activities stem cell circuits that can regenerate neurons that have been damaged with long-term alcohol use."

For those who have drank 'heavily and persistently', there's 'only so much benefit it can have', Dr Mezher adds.

"But stopping early will give you the best chances," he says.