Regular and significant alcohol consumption “makes” stroke occur more than 10 years earlier, according to a new study published in Neurology.

The study found that people who regularly consumed three or more alcoholic drinks per day experienced brain hemorrhages more often, at a younger age, and with greater severity than those who drank less or did not drink at all. In the study, one alcoholic drink or unit was defined as 10 milliliters of pure ethanol — roughly equivalent to 350 milliliters of beer, 150 milliliters of wine, or 45 milliliters of spirits, Euronews reports.

Beyond the increased risk of stroke, heavy drinkers more frequently showed signs of small vessel disease in the brain — damage to tiny blood vessels that raises the risk of developing dementia.

“Our results indicate that alcohol consumption not only increases stroke severity but also accelerates long-term damage to the brain’s small vessels,” said Dr. Edip Gurol, one of the study’s authors and a neurologist at Harvard University.

The study included 1,600 adults hospitalized for stroke. Of them, 104 were classified as regular drinkers. Their average age at the time of the brain hemorrhage was 64, compared to 75 among those who drank less or did not drink at all. The affected area in regular drinkers was also 70 percent larger, the study says.

Medical tests showed that heavy drinkers also had lower platelet counts and elevated blood pressure upon hospital admission, which may have influenced both the severity of the stroke and subsequent recovery.

The study has several limitations, chiefly that it assessed patients at a single point in time rather than following them over a long period. Additionally, participants may have misreported their alcohol habits or failed to disclose heavy drinking earlier in life.

Nevertheless, according to the researchers, the findings indicate that reducing alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of healthy aging and maintaining brain health.

“Cutting back on alcohol may not only lower the risk of hemorrhagic stroke but also slow the progression of small vessel disease in the brain, which in turn may reduce the risk of recurrent stroke, cognitive decline, and long-term disability,” Gurol said.

“Promoting lifestyle changes, such as abstaining from alcohol, should be part of stroke prevention efforts, especially for those at higher risk,” he added.

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