UK NEWS

BINGE DRINKERS FACE RISK OF BRAIN DAMAGE

BOOZE CULTURE: Young Scots ignore risks

Wednesday August 27,2008

By Rod Mills Chief Reporter

A GENERATION of young Scots risk developing dementia by the time they reach their 40s because of binge drinking.

Scientists yesterday warned long-term heavy drinking could result in people being left unable to care for themselves by early middle age.

A conference on dementia at St Andrews University next week will hear experts warning that young drinkers are storing up future mental health problems.

Yesterday, Professor June Andrews, director of the University’s Dementia Services Development Centre, which will host the conference, warned the message was failing to get through to young Scots.

Professor Andrews said: “Many of the public campaigns on the dangers of binge drinking focus on physical injuries, or even looking ridiculous to their friends.

“While those tactics are very effective and important, one of the things that doesn’t come to the fore in the long term effects of binge drinking is that in your middle age you could be very severely brain damaged.

“Binge drinking can lead to dementia at a relatively early age.

“While young people tend not to take on board the dangers of health problems which might not affect them until they are 40 or 50, this is a message they need to hear.

“The image of someone aged 40 who is otherwise quite fit, but ends up in a care home because they are unable to look after themselves is quite shocking.”

The warning highlights a new burden on Scotland’s economy caused by alcohol abuse. Scottish Government statistics show the booze culture costs £2.25billion.

The figure represents the cost of alcohol misuse to business, the NHS, social services, police and courts, but experts say it could be underestimated.

Heavy drinking can cause dementia through brain injuries caused by accidents and assaults, and also directly through the toxic effects of alcohol.

Damage can also be caused by the poor nutrition that often accompanies binge drinking, causing illnesses such as Wernicke’s syndrome and Korsakoff’s syndrome.

Recent research showed Glasgow had the highest incidence of the conditions in the world, with cases found among people as young as their 30s.

Psychiatrist Dr Mehrdad Khorsand, of Greater Glasgow Health Board, will be among experts in the field presenting their findings at the conference next Tuesday.

Dr Khorsand said: “Korsakoff’s is a chronic condition which affects the ability to absorb new information, and a quarter of patients make a good recovery. But Wernicke’s is an acute form of delirium which can prove fatal.”

The two-day conference will also focus on the strategies being developed to support the growing number of elderly people with dementia.