We are independent agents and can help you get Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Prescription Drug Plans. Call us today for more information.
DEMENTIA RISK RISES WITH ANY AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL USE, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
Pag. 6
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 FREE
Voting is a cornerstone of democracy, giving citizens a voice in the policies and leaders that shape their future. Registering to vote is the first step in exercising this critical right. Whether it’s federal, state, or local elections, ensuring that you are registered allows you to participate and make a difference in your community.
Each state has its own voter registration deadlines, and some can be as much as 30 days before Election Day. Missing the deadline could prevent you from voting, so it’s essential to register as early as possible. Registering in advance also gives you time to confirm your registration status, make any necessary changes, and receive your voting materials without delay.
There are multiple methods to register, allowing flexibility based on your situation and preferences.
Register through Vote.gov
The simplest and most common way to begin the voter registration process is through Vote.gov. Here’s how it works:
• Visit the website: Go to Vote.gov and select your state or territory from the list.
• Follow the instructions: Each state has its own specific rules and deadlines for registering voters. Depending on your state’s guidelines, you may have the following options to register:
• Online: Some states allow you to complete your registration fully online.
• By mail: Download, complete, and mail the registration form to your state’s designated office.
• In person: Some states require or
allow in-person registration at local election offices.
National Mail Voter Registration Form
If you prefer not to use Vote.gov, you can register by mailing in a physical form:
• Download the form: The National Mail Voter Registration Form can be accessed online. You can either complete it on your computer or print it and fill it out by hand.
• Sign and mail: Once the form is complete, ensure you sign it before mailing it to the appropriate state office listed on the form.
• Submit early: Always double-check deadlines and give yourself enough time for mailing to ensure your form is received and processed in time.
If you prefer to register in person, many local and state government offices offer the option to register. Consider the following locations:
• Local government offices: Visit your local election office, city hall, or county clerk’s office to complete the registration process in person.
• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): Many states offer voter registration services at DMV offices when applying for or renewing a driver’s license.
• Public Assistance Offices: Some public assistance offices, like those providing SNAP/food stamps, also offer voter registration services.
Armed Forces Recruitment Centers: Service members or their families can register at military recruitment centers.
If you are a U.S. citizen living abroad, a service member stationed overseas, or an
eligible family member of a service member, the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) can help you register to vote and request an absentee ballot. This ensures you don’t miss out on participating in elections even while abroad.
The program allows for easy access to absentee voting for:
• U.S. citizens living overseas
• Service members and their eligible family members stationed abroad
More details can be found at the official FVAP website, where you can also begin the registration process.
tion
The documents required to register to vote vary by state, but typically you will need one of the following:
• Driver’s license or state-issued ID: Most states prefer or require you to provide one of these.
• Alternate documentation: If you don’t have a driver’s license or state ID, many states accept other documents like a utility bill, bank statement, or government-issued paperwork to verify your identity and address.
To avoid delays, check with your state’s election office to confirm what forms of identification and documentation are accepted for voter registration. By registering to vote, you take the first step toward making your voice heard. It’s a simple yet impactful action that enables you to participate in the democratic process, shaping the future of your community, state, and country. Make sure to register early, confirm your information, and take advantage of the resources available to make your voting experience as smooth as possible.
one of his many crazy immigration claims
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made big headlines with his false claim that Haitian immigrants are eating Americans’ dogs and cats. But, unfortunately, several other equally ridiculous statements about immigrants that he delivered at the presidential debate drew very little public attention.
Granted, Trump’s fake — and racially charged — assertion that Haitian undocu-
mented immigrants are munching on Americans’ pets in Ohio was astounding. It was not a tangential remark, but an obviously prepared talking point that he delivered as evidence to back up his dubious claim that undocumented immigrants “are destroying” America.
“In Springfield (Ohio), they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country,” Trump said in front of 67 million people who were watching the debate.
Hours later, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, as well as the Springfield police department and the city of Springfield issued separate statements saying they had no evidence that immigrants were eating people’s pets.
The fake story, which had been earlier amplified by Trump’s vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance and Trump fan and X owner Elon Musk, apparently originated from a Facebook page in which a Springfield resident had attributed the story to a neighbor’s daughter’s friend.
But the media focus on Trump’s Haitians-eating-pets story eclipsed several other ridiculous things that Trump said during the debate which neither Democratic candidate Kamala Harris nor the ABC moderators had the time or willingness to rebut that night. Among others:
Trump said that there are a record “21 million” undocumented people in the United States. This is not true. According to the nonpartisan Pew Research Center, there were 11 million unauthorized immigrants in 2022, the most recent year for which figures are available. That was still below the peak 12.2 million in 2007, and amounts to about 3% of the U.S. population.
Trump said there are “millions of people pouring into our country from prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums.” Really? “Millions”? That’s nonsense. There is no serious report saying anything even close to that.
Trump said that undocumented immigrants “are criminals” who are “destroying our country” and driving up crime rates. That’s false. According to FBI figures, violent crimes are near their lowest level in 50 years in the United States. And several studies, including one published recently by Northwestern University, show that immigrants are significantly less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens. The last thing unauthorized migrants want is to draw attention from the police.
Trump said that immigrants “are coming in and they’re taking jobs that are occupied right now by African Americans and Hispanics.” That’s not true. Most undocumented
immigrants fill jobs in agriculture, construction, hospitality and other industries that native-born Americans don’t want to do.
There are nearly 9 million job openings in the United States, but only 6.4 million unemployed workers, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. If we deport millions, as Trump says he will do, labor costs will rise, and U.S. consumers will pay higher prices for food and most basic services.
What’s more, a new study by the University of New Hampshire says that, by doing jobs that Americans don’t want to do, undocumented migrants help U.S.-born Americans get better jobs. “The unauthorized immigrant dishwasher may well make the job of a citizen restaurant manager possible rather than deny a citizen a job,” the study says.
By now, you may be asking yourself why didn’t Harris counter Trump’s lies about immigration at the presidential debate. The answer is that, most likely, she didn’t want to waste her precious minutes onstage to refute Trump’s crazy attacks on immigrants, because it would have deprived her of time to present her own plans for the future.
And, also, her Democratic party debate coaches probably concluded that it would have been a lost cause because a majority of Americans believe that there is a dangerous immigration crisis.
Instead of debunking Trump’s claims, Harris chose to side with public opinion, and blamed Trump for pushing Republican senators to vote against a tough bipartisan border bill that President Joe Biden was prepared to sign. Harris said Trump asked his party’s legislators to kill the bill because he wanted to keep immigration as a hot topic for the November elections.
None of this is to say that the United States does not have an immigration problem. The fact is that undocumented migration reached a peak in 2023, and that many undocumented migrants — often bused to Democratic-ruled northern states by the Republican governors of Texas and Florida — settled in some cities that were not prepared to receive them.
But what Trump did not say in the debate, and is not saying anywhere, is that the flow of undocumented migrants plummeted this year after the Biden Administration imposed tough new entry restrictions for refugees, or that most immigrants don’t commit crimes, nor take away American jobs, nor will eat your cat for lunch.
What Trump is doing is using the same old fear-mongering tactic he has used since his 2016 campaign: using immigrants as scapegoats in order to create the fiction of a terrible crisis and present himself as the “only-I-can-fix-it” savior. Trouble is, it’s getting to be repetitive, boring, and increasingly crazier.
Texting scams are targeting toll customers in Texas saying they’re from TxTag, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is warning everyone to be on the lookout.
There have been multiple reports of TxTag customers receiving text messages claiming to have a balance due or past due. These SMS text phishing scams, also known as smishing, have been occurring since April, but appear to have increased recently. TxDOT is working to have fraudulent websites taken down in hopes of preventing customers from becoming victims.
TxTag takes customer account security and verification very seriously. While TxTag currently communicates with customers via email, text and outbound phone calls, it will not send text messages regarding final payment reminders or past due balances. Any text messages sent to TxTag customers will be sent from 22498.
TxDOT asks TxTag customers to be vigilant of these ongoing scams and contact TxTag Customer Service directly at TxTag. org or by calling 1-888-468-9824, should customers receive an unsolicited text, email or message purporting to be from TxTag or another toll agency. They should also not click on or open any links.
Emails and texts are sent to the email address and/or the phone number that customers provide in their account. Customers are required to opt into email and/or text notifications in order to receive emails and/ or texts from TxTag. If customers are unsure if they are opted into email and/or text notifications, they can log into their TxTag online account or contact TxTag customer service to confirm.
TxTag requires all customers to confirm their account information and verify their identity before providing any information to ensure they are speaking with the correct person on the account.
If a customer receives a phone call, email or text message they believe may be a scam, they should contact TxTag customer service directly at TxTag.org or by calling 1-888-468-9824.
Anyone who believes they have received a fraudulent text can file a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.
By Kelly Science
ity in the job If don’t worker. in the robot inspection
“There that are snakes, WALL-E ing in Gordon, These TxDOT from construction
“The the department possible. Matthew
By Kelly E. Lindner
Science fiction is quickly becoming reality in life — but it’s also just another day on the job site at TxDOT.
If you’ve ever visited a TxDOT job site, don’t be alarmed if you notice a robotic worker. There’s TyBOT the rebar-tying robot in the Odessa area, Spot, the data-collection robot in Austin, and WALL-E the storm-drain inspection robot in the Austin area.
“There are unknown hazards sometimes that are in storm drains and covets, like snakes, rats and debris, so we would send WALL-E in vs. sending someone else in, being in danger and getting hurt,” said John Gordon, storm drain inspector at TxDOT.
These innovative machines are helping TxDOT be safer and more efficient in areas from construction to inspections.
“The idea of having a tool like this within the department is truly to keep us as safe as possible. It is completely safety driven,” said Matthew Bryant with TxDOT’s engineering
services team.
TxDOT used TyBOT, a rebar-tying robot from Advanced Construction Robotics, for the first time in May 2022 on the SH 302 Highway Project in Winkler County in the Odessa area.
The project constructed two overpasses for the highway. One was over the Texas-New Mexico Railroad. The other was over SH 115, eliminating a four-way stop that caused traffic and safety issues.
“TyBOT makes it safer for workers,” said Saul Romero, director of construction in Odessa. “TyBOT allows one operator to stand upright and tie the rebar using a joystick.”
TyBOT can tie up to 1,100 rebar connections per hour. The robot doesn’t just save time, it also saves wear and tear for workers, since tying rebar can be hard on knees, hands and backs.
“It’s back-breaking work to tie steel, literally,” Romero said. “It’s much better and faster to have just one worker controlling the
TyBOT with a joystick while standing upright instead of a crew tying rebar manually.”
Spot, created by Boston Dynamics, is a semi-autonomous, agile robot that assists with routine inspection and data collection tasks safely and accurately.
Spot can collect data for 3D models, inventory existing structures, account for existing assets, provide a clear picture of job site progress on an ongoing basis and much more. Spot can be outfitted with sensors to meet mission requirements, such as light detection and ranging sensors.
“Spot enables accurate, scalable and rapid data collection and a continuous flow of information between field and office,” Bryant said. “It can be 100% automated or remotely operated depending on the application.”
Once Spot surveys a specific area, it can routinely inspect or gather data automatically in that space on its own at programmed times.
“I can train someone to use Spot and collect data in 15 minutes,” Bryant said. Spot also navigates the terrain with above-average agility. Using 360-degree perception, it navigates around obstacleseven new ones.
“If someone puts a box in its way or drives a bulldozer in front of it, it’ll walk around it,” Bryant said.
Spot can also balance heavy loads - close to 30 pounds - while rolling over uncertain terrain like loose gravel, grass, small puddles and curves. Spot can even handle stairs with steps up to 12 inches high and inclines up to 30 degrees.
“Spot keeps engineers and technicians out of harm’s way,” Bryant said. “Instead of putting on special gear and crawling into a drainage ditch or tunnel - which can contain snakes and other hazards - TxDOT employees could send Spot at no risk to themselves,” Bryant said. “We can also collect data we’ve never had before. Because of hazardous conditions, we have a lot of assumed data, but we’d be able to collect all the data we need - some of it for the first time. This will help accelerate our projects.”
The division expects to purchase two Spot units this spring.
“We plan to name one TX and the other DOT,” Bryant said.
By Victoria Burns
TxDOT’s internship program provides valuable experience to the transportation leaders of the future as it welcomed more than 630 students this summer in offices across the state.
For these interns, the experience was not only an occasion to beef up their resumes, but also offered a front row seat for getting involved in the work impacting the lives of those who call Texas home.
“I enjoy working at TxDOT as an intern because it gives me hands-on experience in important projects that help Texans,” said Joshua Samuel, an intern in the maintenance division. “It was a supportive place to learn and grow.”
A sentiment shared by construction intern Poran Sufi.
“My internship experience with TxDOT has been incredibly enriching, providing me with valuable insights into transportation infrastructure and practical skills in project processes,” he said.
Adam Holeman, an intern with the Navarro County maintenance team, discovered that building strong infrastructure involves another critical component: people.
“The biggest thing I have learned is how to build and maintain relationships and their importance,” he said. “I believe these lessons will benefit me through my life and future career.”
Jehma Nesbit and Emmanuel Munoz used their experience to enlighten others while representing TxDOT at a local high school career fair.
Paris District Area Engineer Daniel Taylor said the pair thrived in that environment.
“Often students are uncomfortable talking to adults,” he said. “However, the students felt very comfortable talking to Manny and Jehma because they are similar in age and were relatable.”
Through the year-round internship program, TxDOT aims to nurture the next generation of leaders, equipping them with the knowledge, experience and skills to succeed in their future careers at TxDOT and beyond.
Such was the case for Melia Fleetwood, a former intern who is now a human resources generalist with the Human Resources Division.
“I learned from amazing mentors who were in the roles I wanted to be in post-graduation,” Fleetwood said. “My internship ultimately gave me the skills and confidence to be able to succeed in a permanent position.”
TxDOT is currently home to more than 1,200 employees who started as summer hires.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros volleyball team lost a heartbreaking fiveset battle, 3-2 (21-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-23, 15-11), Thursday to the Texas Tech (TTU) Red Raiders in front of a program-record crowd of 2,771 at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. This is the first sellout in program history and destroys the previous best crowd of 2,176 set in Sept. 2018 the last time Texas Tech came to the Valley. The Vaqueros (4-3) will play their second match of the UTRGV Tournament at 6:30 Friday against San Francisco. Visit UTRGVTickets.com to purchase tickets for the UTRGV match or the four other contests in the tournament. A clear bag policy is in place for the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
Senior outside hitter Claudia Lupescu set a career high with 25 kills on .322 hitting and tabbed her fourth double-double of the season as she added 13 digs and three aces. UTRGV had four players with double-doubles for the second time this season as senior outside hitter Ilana De Assis had 17 kills and a career-high 20 digs, sophomore outside hitter Nadine Zech had 14 kills and 10 digs, and sophomore setter Isabella Costantini dished out a career-high 60 assists with a career-high 14 digs.
Senior right side Perris Key added seven kills and three aces, while sophomore middle blocker and Harlingen High alum Julianna Bryant tabbed six kills on .417 hitting a career-high six blocks. Sophomore libero Celianiz Cabranes racked up 17 kills.
Texas Tech (6-1) was led by Mia Wes-
ley’s 17 kills and 10 digs. Brynn Williams added 16 kills on .350 hitting and Emily Merrick had 10 kills. Libero Maddie Correa tallied 24 digs.
From the start, fueled by the incredible environment from the raucous crowd, the Vaqueros were playing with a fierce intensity. UTRGV used a 3-0 run to start the set, but Texas Tech came right back with four unanswered. The back-and-forth foreshadowed what was in store for the rest of the match.
The teams swapped two-point spurts until Lupescu started to get hot midway through the first set, sparking a 4-0 run for the 12-10 lead. Later, Lupescu ripped backto-back massive kills and added a block to get UTRGV to set point up 24-20, and a kill from Key up the middle secured the opening frame win, 25-21.
The second set followed a similar storyline. The teams were tight early, then the Red Raiders found a rhythm midway through and held a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. Bryant got her hometown crowd all riled up as she came up big with a kill and a block to help spark a 4-0 run to put UTRGV on top, 20-19, and force a Texas Tech timeout.
Texas Tech came back with a service ace to take a 23-21 lead. With the home crowd showing great support, the Vaqueros found a way to fight back. They played solid defense and Costantini moved the ball around, and after a kill from Assis aided a 3-0 run, UTRGV was the first to reach set point up 24-23. Again, the Red Raiders fought off one set clincher, but Lupescu would not be
denied. She blasted a powerful kill that sent the crowd to its feet, then served up an ace to seal it, 26-24.
Texas Tech showed its resilience and controlled Set 3, forcing the Vaqueros to scramble defensively, and by forcing them out of system they limited UTRGV’s offense. The Red Raiders led by as many as six at 17-11, but the Vaqueros battled with big swings from Zech and Assis to get within three. The Red Raiders, though, hit .343 in the frame and used that attack efficiency to hold on for a 25-21 win.
The Red Raiders kept rolling in the fourth and held a 15-8 lead midway through the frame. But the Vaqueros had no intent to go down quietly.
Key powered through the TTU block for a kill, sparking a 7-0 run that featured backto-back kills from Assis and Lupescu’s third ace to tie the frame at 16-16. Tech responded with a 4-1 run for the 20-17 lead but UTRGV was resilient, fired up by the rowdy crowd. Bryant put down a smart tip kill, then Lupescu found fingers for an overturned call to get within 23-22. The Vaqueros fought off one set point, but Texas Tech knotted the match at 2-2 by taking the fourth, 25-23.
The Red Raiders opened up an 11-1 lead in the deciding fifth set. The Vaqueros continued to fight to the final whistle and went on a 7-0 run to get within 12-10. Key, the stoic senior captain, got things going with three aces in the stretch, and Bryant added two clutch kills from the middle. Texas Tech held on to take the frame, 15-11.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s soccer team extended their shutout streak to four in a row by defeating the Prairie View A&M Panthers 4-0 on Thursday at UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
Additionally, senior Libby Beilfuss became the program leader in career matches played with her 81st match played at UTRGV. She also currently ranks fifth in matches started (67) and fourth in minutes played (5,883).
The Vaqueros (4-2-1) didn’t waste much time to get on the board as sophomore Rosie Train connect with freshman Jordan Matthews who scored her second goal of the season to give UTRGV the 1-0 lead in the 10th minute.
Almost nine minutes later, sophomore Linnea Eld extended UTRGV’s lead to 2-0 in the 19th minute with her second goal of the season, but the scoring didn’t end there for the Vaqueros as sophomore Arndís Eggertsdóttir score her first goal the season in the 34th minute for the 3-0 lead.
The Vaqueros dominated the first half outshooting the Panthers (1-6-0) 14 to 1 and 8 to 1 on goal.
In the second half, the Vaqueros added to their lead as senior Abbie Bailey converted on a penalty kick to make it 4-0 in the 47th minute, which put the cap on the scoring.
The Vaqueros finished the match with 17 shots and nine on goal and held the Panthers to the one shot.
The Vaqueros will be back in action on Sunday when they hit the road to face the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at 1 p.m. at Home Bank Soccer & Track Complex.
Make plans to join us this week for Nature Painting with Jessica Monroe Art! If you love art and nature, or if you’re seeking some time to enjoy the beautiful sights of spring, this is the perfect event for you.
On September 19, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Jessica Monroe will share her insight into her creative outdoor process. She’ll provide tips and resources on how to use art as a means to connect with nature and your own wild spaces. Whether you’re an experienced artist or simply curious, you’ll gain valuable inspiration for your next artistic adventure.
The first hour will feature interactive demonstrations and guided instruction, followed by a hands-on painting session where you’ll apply the techniques you’ve learned. Be sure to bring your own supplies, or, if needed, you can purchase a painting set at the Quinta bookshop.
Admission is free with park entrance, so grab your easel and come enjoy a day of creativity in nature!
AFREE Single and season tickets for their 2024/25 Masterworks Concerts are also on sale now McAllen, TX – The Valley Symphony Orchestra (VSO) is excited to invite the Rio Grande Valley community to Symphony in the Park on October 5, 2024 from 6-10 pm, at the McAllen Convention Center Oval Park.
As part of the ongoing Sunset Live Concert Series, this free, family-friendly event will feature live music under the stars and a variety of activities for attendees of all ages. No tickets or reservations are required.
The concert will kick off with a string quartet rendition of the most iconic anime themes to celebrate the South Texas Comic Con’s Anime Fiesta, followed by a wind quintet bringing a taste of the Halloween spirit. The evening’s headlining act will be led by Maestro Peter Debrowski and will feature a 21-member group performing classics from legendary artists such as The Beatles, Santana, Prince, Elvis, and more. In addition to the musical entertainment, there will be food trucks, refreshments, vendors, and interactive activities to ensure an unforgettable night for everyone.
The Valley Symphony Orchestra is also proud to announce that single tickets for the 2024/25 Masterworks Season are now on sale. With five breathtaking performances scheduled from November through April, this season promises to deliver world-class classical music at the McAllen Performing Arts Center (MPAC). Tickets are available online and at the MPAC Box Office.
As a cultural cornerstone of the Rio Grande Valley, the Valley Symphony Orchestra has made a significant impact on both the community and the local economy. According to the VSO Economic Impact Study (2018-2023) conducted by SMU DataArts and Steven R. Nivin, PhD, the organization has played a key role in enhancing the region’s vibrancy. Highlights from the study include:
• $7.1 million in total economic impact to the McAllen Metro Area from 2018 to 2023
• 446 jobs created annually, contributing to economic activity through staffing, artistic fees, and contract labor
• $794,003 in total revenues flowing to local, state, and federal government agencies
The organization’s contribution to workforce attraction, educational outcomes, and economic development underscores its importance in the Rio Grande Valley. With the free event on October 5 and start of a new Masterworks Season the organization will continue prioritizing its commitment to the arts in McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley at large.
For more information about Symphony in the Park or to purchase tickets for the Masterworks Season, visit www.valleysymphony.org. For season ticket packages contact Patron Services at 956-803-3036.
The City of Mission has teamed up with the Rio Grande Valley Humane Society to help keep your furry friends safe! Microchipping your pet is a simple and effective way to ensure they can always find their way back home if they ever get lost.
Don’t miss this opportunity to provide peace of mind for you and your pet! The upcoming microchip clinic offers a quick and easy way to protect your beloved companions. Microchipping involves implanting a tiny chip, about the size of a grain of rice, under your pet’s skin. This chip carries a unique ID number linked to your contact information in a database, allowing animal shelters and veterinarians to reunite you with your pet in case they are found away from home.
Pets can wander off, especially during storms or fireworks, and microchipping provides an added layer of security to make sure they return to you safely. It’s a small investment for long-term peace of mind. Register now for the upcoming microchip clinic and take a proactive step in protecting your pets. Spread the word to family and friends to ensure all pets in the community are safe and can always find their way back home. Keep an eye out for additional details on registration and location.
Robby Berman
• There is no level of alcohol consumption that does not increase the risk of dementia among drinkers, according to a new study.
• Using statistical methods based on genetic analyses, the authors of the study found that alcohol heightened dementia risk in proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed.
• This study contradicts earlier research that suggested light to moderate drinking may protect against dementia.
There is no level of alcohol consumption that is not associated with a higher risk of dementia, suggests a new study, contrary to previous findings.
The study, which appears in eClinicalMedicine, concludes there is a linear relationship between the amount of alcohol one consumes and the risk of developing dementia.
Earlier research suggested a protective effect for lower and moderate levels of drinking, but the new study finds that this was likely the result of something they refer to as “abstainer bias.”
Putting one question to rest: Is moderate
Experts have understood for some time that heavy drinking is associated with dementia. However, the effects of light and moderate drinking have remained an area of debate.
In their attempt to clarify the relationship between light and moderate alcohol consumption and dementia, the authors of the study analyzed data from the UK Biobank for 313,958 white, British drinkers.
Participants were free of dementia during initial data collection during 2006–2010. During this time, individuals self-reported their drinking habits, and provided the UK Biobank genetic information.
Participants were followed until 2021, during which time any diagnoses of dementia were recorded. The researchers looked at the data from two perspectives.
For the first, using the self-reported alcohol consumption information, they employed a conventional multivariable Cox analysis. This is a statistical technique often used to assess the relationship between a risk factor and health outcome over time.
This analysis produced the classic “j-curve” graph that implied a protective effect for moderate drinking. This means the graph curve drops down initially, then
goes up.
The second perspective involved looking at participants’ genetic data, since the amount of alcohol one consumes can be accurately predicted according to the presence of certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) — a type of genetic variation — in a person’s genome. The researchers targeted 95 SNPs that are linked to alcohol consumption but not to smoking.
For these data, they used nonlinear and linear Mendelian randomization analyses, research methods used to provide evidence for causal relationships between risk factors and health outcomes.
Both of these analyses suggested a linear relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia risk, indicating that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to dementia risk.
Why does alcohol affect dementia risk?
Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study, explained for Medical News Today that: “Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant drug which causes brain atrophy. Patients with dementia have baseline suppressed nervous system function with atrophy.”
Ozan Toy, MD, MPH, of Telapsychiatry — also not involved in the study — put the relationship in more mechanistic terms, noting that “alcohol is a known neurotoxin.”
He elaborated that “Alcohol can negatively impact the brain’s memory center known as the hippocampus by causing cell atrophy and by inhibiting the growth of new neurons via a process called neurogenesis. We also know that chronic alcohol use can lead to depletion of an important B-vitamin, thiamine, which is also really important for memory and cognition.”
“Common sense,” said Segil, “dictates that giving a patient with slow brain function a substance that slows brain function down more is going to worsen dementia.”
Does alcohol offer any health benefits?
“For many years,” said Toy, “it used to be believed that moderate alcohol intake could be beneficial for heart health, but recent research has debunked this. There is no good reason to drink alcohol for health reasons.”
Segil agreed with the study’s conclusion that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
“Alcohol use can cause seizures or elec-
trical problems in the brain, causing it to short-circuit. Alcohol use can cause neuropathies or fraying of people’s nerves in their hands and feet, causing burning pains and numbness,” he told us.
Segil acknowledged that there was still some debate as to whether light alcohol consumption has some health benefits but stressed that there were no brain health benefits to any alcohol consumption, even in small amounts.
What is ‘abstainer bias’ in alcohol use studies?
The authors of the new study say that a factor in previous research and the j-shaped curve is “abstainer bias.”
Toy explained that “‘abstainer bias’ refers to the inclusion of former drinkers who may have stopped due to health issues in the non-drinker category, as controls.”
“These abstainers have worse health than light drinkers but end up in the control group, which makes alcohol use appear to be healthier than it is,” said Toy.
While cutting down or stopping alcohol use entirely is one important step in protecting brain health, the experts that MNT spoke to noted that there are many other factors that play a role in dementia risk.
“Age, cardiometabolic disease, smoking, education, and socioeconomic factors likely have more substantial, cumulative effects on dementia risk than alcohol,” said Toy.
“Addressing alcohol consumption, though, offers an important avenue for prevention and should be addressed in any patients at risk for developing dementia,” he added.
Drinking can cause memory loss on its own, independent of a person’s cardiac health, smoking status, or age, said Segil. He noted that he has treated patients whose apparent dementia and memory loss have been resolved by convincing them to stop drinking.
Segil also pointed out that “alcohol use is a frequent medical comorbidity in many neurological diseases, including memory loss, seizures, neuropathies, and traumatic brain injuries.”
“Alcohol use,” emphasized Segil, “is not a ‘rich person’ or ‘poor person’ disease, and afflicts all, independent of their social economic status.”
