#128- Alcohol + Dementia: Does moderate drinking increase dementia risk?

#128- Alcohol + Dementia: Does moderate drinking increase dementia risk?

From Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp by Dr. Regina Koepp

August 12, 2025 · 18 min · Episode 128

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of moderate alcohol consumption on dementia risk in older adults, highlighting new research findings.

If you’ve ever been told that “a little wine is good for you,” you might want to hear what the latest science says—especially when it comes to the aging brain. In this episode, I share compelling new research showing that even moderate alcohol use in midlife and later life may significantly increase the risk of dementia. I’ll walk you through why alcohol use in older adults often goes undetected, how it impacts brain health, and the exact screening tools and questions I use—and that you can u...

Topics covered

  • alcohol
  • dementia
  • brain health
  • aging
  • moderate drinking

Keywords

  • dementia risk
  • alcohol use
  • screening tools
  • brain health

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