Excessive alcohol
Heavy drinking (more than 7 drinks per week) accelerates cognitive decline through direct neurotoxicity and vascular damage.
Why it matters
Reducing alcohol intake to moderate levels or below removes the excess risk. The brain recovers some function over months.
What to ask at the checkup
Ask about current alcohol intake and whether a reduction plan would help
Screening: Self-reported weekly drinks
Sources
Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet Commission
Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY et al.. The Lancet, 2024.
Fourteen things people can change account for nearly half of dementia cases at the population level.
Alcohol consumption and cognitive decline in early old age
Topiwala A, Allan CL, Valkanova MV et al.. JAMA Neurology, 2017.
More than about 7 drinks a week was linked to faster memory loss over decades.
Routines for this factor
One fewer drink today
Have one fewer drink than usual, or swap one for sparkling water.
1 min, difficulty 2/3