Drinking may shrink the brain even in moderate amounts, study suggests

Drinking an average of only one to two alcohol drinks every day can be associated with not only with negative changes in the gray and white matter part of the brain, but also a reduction in brain volume

Although the National Institute on Aging notes our brains naturally shrink over time, the peer-reviewed study suggests alcohol can accelerate not only a reduction in the size of the brain, but also result in a more rapid decline in memory, decision-making as well as other functions.  

The researchers noted it is well known that excessive alcohol use is associated with a myriad of adverse effects, including heart disease, nutritional deficiency, cancer and accelerating aging, with white matter changes on brain imaging as the hallmark sign associated with the mental health condition called alcohol use disorder.